Episode 71: Healing Hashimoto's: Embracing a Holistic Path to Wellness

In this episode, holistic health coach Robin Jamerson shares her journey of healing from Hashimoto’s after conventional medicine fell short. After the birth of her second son, Robin Jamerson found herself facing a Hashimoto's diagnosis and feeling disillusioned by conventional treatments that focused solely on medication. Her journey of self-healing through functional medicine, whole food nutrition, and crucial mindset shifts is nothing short of transformative. 

Through functional medicine, nutrition, and mindset shifts, Robin uncovered the root causes of her illness and reclaimed her wellness. We explore the impact of stress on the body, how to recognize its signs, and practical ways to manage it through mindfulness, movement, and self-care. This conversation is a powerful reminder that true healing begins when we listen to our bodies and take an active role in our well-being.

About Robin:

Robin is a holistic health coach specializing in helping women with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions reclaim their energy, heal their gut, and feel like themselves again. As the founder of Wholly Healthy You and the creator of The Wholly Healthy You Project, Robin combines whole-food nutrition, mindset shifts, and stress management to support deep healing. With a background in nursing and a passion for empowering women, she guides her clients away from surface-level fixes and into long-term wellness. 

Find Robin:

www.facebook.com/share/1FHGhJc5HW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/wholisticnurserobin/

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:03

Welcome to the Heal Yourself Podcast, where we dive deep into all things healing. I'm Denise, a speech-language pathologist and a self-love coach for adults and teens.

Speaker 2 0:15

And I'm Kira, a traditional naturopath and functional nutritionist, and we are here to guide you through the transformative process of healing your body, mind and soul.

Speaker 1 0:25

From the latest in functional medicine to nurturing your relationship with yourself, healing trauma and even transforming your money story. We're here to empower you with the knowledge and tools to create lasting change.

Speaker 2 0:39

So, whether you're looking to heal physically, emotionally or spiritually, join us as we explore the many paths to wholeness and wellness. Hi guys, and welcome back to the podcast. Today I am actually chatting with a special guest. Her name is Robin Jamerson, and Robin is a holistic health coach specializing in helping women with Hashimoto's and autoimmune conditions reclaim their energy, heal their gut and feel like themselves again. As the founder of Holy Healthy you and the creator of the Holy Healthy you Project, robin combines whole food, nutrition, mindset shifts and stress management to support deep healing. With a background in nursing and a passion for empowering women, she guides her clients away from surface level fixes and into long-term wellness. Today, she's here to share how small, intentional changes can transform your health and your well-being. So, robin, welcome to the show. Hi, thank you. Yeah, so tell us, how did you get to the place of Hashimoto's? Is that part of your own journey?

Speaker 3 1:55

Yes, it actually was. So I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's after the birth of my second son. They actually, at my postpartpartum appointment, found a goiter and that's how they had found it, and and that just kind of started on my journey of trying to heal myself, because basically the doctor said, you know, just take the medication and you're fine, and then eventually we'll probably have to remove your thyroid, and sent me on my way. So I had to kind of take it upon myself to figure things out and fast forward. It took a few years, but then as a nurse, I realized that I wasn't helping people. I was. I was feeling out of alignment with the way that I was helping my patients, because I was treating them for the exact same thing that they um, they were doing the exact same things that got them sick in the first place, and I really wanted to be able to help them heal and not just keep giving them medications while they were continuing to do the things that were keeping them sick.

Speaker 2 3:00

Yeah, which your story is all too common and I think so many of us can relate of. Like, okay, I went to the doctor and I got a diagnosis which may or may not be helpful moving forward, but they're not giving me any help. Like here you might. You might lose your thyroid, just like they told my husband with autoimmune hepatitis. Well, you might need a liver transplant, like okay, but what's driving that dynamic? What's the problem behind that? The solution isn't that you just need a liver removed.

Speaker 3 3:28

Like that doesn't make sense to me yeah, no, I agree, and then, oh, I'm sorry no, go ahead, go ahead.

Speaker 2 3:35

We interrupt each other all the time here.

Speaker 3 3:37

I was like and then uncovering it, and that was one of the things I could ask myself. I was like I'm in my 30s, like this can't just be it. I am normally healthy and I just felt horrible, even with the medication, so I knew that that couldn't be the only thing, right? Instead of figuring out why this was happening.

Speaker 2 3:56

Yeah, and one of the things you said is something I'm always telling people we can't heal in the same environment that got us sick. And sometimes people see my posts around that and they're like well, I can't get out of the house. I'm like no, no, no, not like sure If the house made you sick, like maybe you have to get out of it.

Speaker 2 4:12

But the environment of like. Are you in a toxic relationship? Are you eating foods that aren't serving you? Are you lacking boundaries, Like? There's so many things that I mean when I say environment. So what did your journey look like? How did you start to heal yourself, you know, when you're like these meds aren't really doing much for me here.

Speaker 3 4:37

Well, one, I just I read all the things and did all the things. So it was a little bit, I think.

Speaker 3 4:43

Maybe did you see this recently I heard somebody say, like the whack-a-mole right, like I was, like okay, I'm going to try this, I'm going to do that, and and so it was a few different things, but the main thing was is that I went toward to diet, because that was one of the things that everybody kind of talked about, you know, whether it was removing gluten or you know the foods that they said that you couldn't have, which it kind of went up and down, and there were a lot of different things that I tried, and but one of the things that I realized later was I was focusing so much on the diet and the nutrition, even like sleep, you know, and those types of things, but I had a newborn and another baby, you know that was under two, and that's a lot, and so, yeah, and so I was like, well, it'd be great if I could sleep that you know, like I need to do these things.

Speaker 3 5:35

But, um, you know, and then I saw a functional medicine practitioner and she put me on all of these supplements, which made me feel even worse. And so, with that being said, I tried a lot of different things, and then it wasn't until I finally started looking at the whole picture that I realized that, um, I was missing pieces, right, like I was going for like this magic thing. And I remember, you know, like when I wouldn't feel good, I was like, oh my gosh, what did I eat? Like in trying to figure out or what can I remove, or what can I add. And then I I needed to look at the whole picture instead of chasing like this magic thing that was going to fix me, whether it was a supplement, or removing, or adding something.

Speaker 2 6:24

Yeah, which I was in the same place and I think so many of us start with that and it's not. It's not a bad place to start looking at food Right, I think that's a fabulous place, but we can start getting obsessed with oh my gosh, I just, I had a little bit of reaction. Was it something I ate? I'm going to cut that out. And then the next day, well, I don't, I don't feel too good right now. It must've been that. So I'm going to cut that out and it can become obsessive and not healthy, because then we're depleting nutrients, because we're not even getting everything we need. But yeah, the whack-a-mole piece is big too, and so many do that of I'm going to try this. Oh well, that didn't work and I gave it three days. So now I'm going to try this over here.

Speaker 2 7:08

And you're right, it's a picture. I always tell my clients I'm like, don't take offense to this, but I'm using you as an analogy with a puzzle. Right, you're a puzzle, you're an inanimate object, but really every client coming to me is a puzzle. If we can start to make sense of the picture, we're not going to have every piece of that puzzle, but we need to look at the big view of it and if we can start to make sense of it, then that's all we need. And that's the problem is so many people will look at one piece of the puzzle, just the diet or just the supplements, and you got to look at it all. So I want to ask you, as you were looking at that for yourself, what did you start to realize was missing?

Speaker 3 7:47

I think what was missing was the stress and just even like the mindset around it. But I remember at one point we were looking at my labs and then trying to figure it out and everything was improving. But I still wasn't quite getting there. And it was actually my doctor she said at the time she was like are you stressed? And it was one of those things where I had been holding so much of it in and not sharing that and it just all came like I mean I just I kind of started crying on the appointment, like I was like like it just took somebody asking me because I was holding it in and I think, trying to function, like I wasn't stressed, right, you know I was totally fine, you know, or telling or pretending that everything was fine. But there were, you know, those things that I was ignoring and pushing to the side and I didn't realize until like that moment or shortly after that that was a missing piece for me. You know how much that stress was affecting my health and keeping me from getting completely better.

Speaker 2 8:54

Yeah, I think that's a missing link for so many, and it's one that we just kind of brush under the rug. It's like oh, of course I have stress, everybody has stress, we do, but how are you handling it? Because we can line 10 people up with the exact same experiences and they're all going to have a different result with that stress, because we all manage it very differently. Do you have tools in your own toolbox, or even things that you're sharing with clients of? And this is a two-part question like how do you recognize stress, because I think so many don't recognize it's an issue. And then, what are some of your favorite tools?

Speaker 3 9:36

So I think, well, one of the things that I've found with, I think, every single client that I've worked with that stress does play a part. It's a part of every one of their lives. And there was only one, I would say, and she was kind of an anomaly, but I think she just handled stress so well that she didn't feel stressed, but she was just a workaholic, but she loved it, and she was a yes girl and said yes to everything, but she felt happy about what she was doing. So it didn't feel like stress to her, um, but it was taking a toll on her body in other ways, um, even with that being said. So your first part of the question was how do you recognize that? Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 10:17

So I think recognizing it is, you know, noticing, you know, are you, are you feeling tense or tight, or are you noticing symptoms? You know, like feeling more tired than you would normally feel, um, even after resting, and feeling drained, um, feeling, you know, like brain fog, right, which is another symptom of autoimmune disease, but it can be so many other symptoms and show up up as brain fog, where you're not quite able to think and complete your thoughts and you can look at your stomach aches and cramping, and you know taking the physical tool and you know as far as like handling some of these. I mean it shows up in different ways. For other people it can show up as a rash, right Like some people end up getting these rashes, but handling it.

Speaker 3 11:11

I always say that it's the best way that you feel you can find that calm. So I can tell you to meditate and I can tell you to take deep breaths. But if that doesn't calm you down, but you know what, maybe going outside and playing basketball with a friend or going for a walk, or you know, and maybe it is yoga for you, so maybe it's doing a cycling class or hiking. So I think it's it's where you find that calm and you feel like that sense of peace within yourself that helps you to better handle things.

Speaker 3 11:44

Know like what in the stress and I think the most important thing is also one is managing it, but also finding areas where you can remove stress if possible, but it's not always possible. So that's when you know finding ways to to manage it and definitely practicing those. Um. So you're not always trying to figure it out in the moment, but you know it could be taking the time to take deep breaths Um, you know, when you're not stressed, so that when it does happen, you can breathe through it instead of letting it take over your body.

Speaker 2 12:17

Yeah, the magic word is calm guys, truly, because, um, I mean, when I look at a lot of my clients and even people around us, we're not a calm society. It's very fast paced. Get stuff done. Oh, I've got dishes to do, I've got kids to get here, I've got work. You know what I mean? There's so much that always seems like needs to get done that calm is a foreign language for many, so that's a great word to use of just what helps you find calm. The other thing I'm going to say as a clue for recognizing stress is, if it is hard for you to slow down, that was my like signal right there. I was like gosh, it is really hard for me to just sit Like I feel like I'm being lazy, I feel like there's stuff to do and I was just running off of stress hormones.

Speaker 3 13:09

Yeah, when I feel like, especially, I think it's different than when our parents, you know, especially for those of us that have kids, right, it's different because there's all these different things. There's, you know, pto and classroom parties, and emails here and emails there, and then you have all of the different sports and even when you look at, like the sports or you know, maybe it's dance or just their extracurricular activities, you have several days that you have all of these different things to do. Plus, you're supposed to, you know, expected to be making these healthy meals and also trying to find family time and all of these different hats that you're supposed to, you know, expect it to be making these healthy meals and also trying to find family time and all of these different hats that you're wearing. And then, if you're working on top of that, it can make it really challenging to not feel stress through all of that, especially when you feel like you're having to be everything to everybody.

Speaker 2 14:02

Yeah, yeah, and that's, I mean, what you said. It's finding the right thing for the person. And I tell people the same thing. Sure, I can tell you to go meditate for 45 minutes. How realistic is that? Not very if you're already stressed out. So it is little things. What brings you to that place of calm, but also what are little things that you can sneak in throughout your day and what are things that you can take off your plate. Like you said, we can't just eliminate stressors. I don't have a magic wand and be like poof, this work project is on or whatever. But are you saying yes to everything? Right? You said you had a client who's a yes girl. Maybe that's not serving you. So maybe there are some of those things that you can start to look at.

Speaker 3 14:48

Yeah, no, I agree, Cause it was even being involved, like, for example, like being a yes girl, cause I'm kind of a yes girl too, so sometimes, or I'm a recovering yes girl, that was one of the things that I had to realize is that I couldn't say yes to everything you know, so that meant I don't go to all of you know, like the PTO or school meetings, because they sent they sent out the signup sheet and I say yes to all of it, but I can let them know. Hey, let me know if you need help, right, you know, so I can pick and choose what I'm saying yes to. And that was like one of the things too. Is that keeping in mind that if we say yes to everything, something's going to fall through the cracks, and a lot of times that ends up being you and your health and, you know, taking care of you.

Speaker 2 15:33

Yeah, one of so. Denise obviously isn't here, guys, but one of her sayings has always been if you continue to say yes to others, you're saying no to yourself. So I want to turn things a little bit. You said stress was a big piece of your healing journey, but also mindset, so talk to me about that.

Speaker 3 15:54

Yes. So I felt like I think, doing that mind well, so when it was a little bit with the mindset was one creating boundaries and was one part of it, but also that mindset of feeling that it was possible, because I think, ultimately, um, I was hopeful, but I don't think that my words, um, and the way I was talking about um it, I really reflected that Right. And so changing, you know, realizing that the power of our words and what we can say um really has a huge impact on that. And so changing you know, realizing that the power of our words and what we can say um really has a huge impact on that.

Speaker 2 16:31

And I know, um, I think you did that, we did an episode.

Speaker 3 16:35

Your word, something about words, but yes, yes, yes, I was like, oh my gosh, yes and so, and which that happened to be like the first one that I had listened to, you know, yeah. So I was like this is great, but I'm realizing that the way I spoke about my healing made a huge difference, and also the way I speak throughout the day, instead of saying, oh my gosh, I'm so tired, or, you know, I'm never going to feel better, or like this isn't gonna. You know, this isn't working. You know, and and you said earlier, um, at the beginning, about trying something for three days, which was you I feel like our words play a role in that as well. You know, when we, when we feel like it's not going to work, um, and we're saying that out loud, we're creating that right. Like you know, we're saying that out loud, we're creating that right. Like you know, we're already making up our mind and so sticking with something and then choosing our words.

Speaker 3 17:34

You know, instead of saying things like you know I have to, you know I have to work hard or I just need to try harder to get healthy, you know, like I'm just not doing enough, but instead, or you know, saying things like I'm gonna, this is just the way it is or I'm gonna always struggle with it, but changing that to you know, my body is healing every day, or I'm choosing things. I'm choosing healthy things for my body every day, and I I am. You know this one might be good for you too. As well as, like I am safe to rest. It's okay for me to rest and not to feel guilty, cause I think sometimes, whether it's our words, but even our mindset, but feeling like it's okay to rest, especially when you're trying to heal.

Speaker 2 18:21

Yeah, it's like rest is. I learned that I've taken too many programs in my day, but one of my mentors has, like vitamin J is joy, but this is another one. It's not vitamin R, but they call it something of like rest as a vitamin, and it needs to be. It needs to be treated as important, as something like that. It's a nutrient. We can't thrive without rest, and so it's not lazy, you know, especially if you are on a physical healing journey and you're not feeling well, you have to be resting. You have to take that time for yourself.

Speaker 3 18:56

Right, yeah, I agree, and taking the time to make sure that you're getting enough sleep and that you know that it's not only feels good, right, but you know it's imperative for your health and that is when your body is resting and repairing. And I'm in sometimes you need more, especially when you're trying to heal.

Speaker 2 19:17

Yeah, yeah, that whole mindset piece is so big, and one of the things I want you guys to remember is it doesn't need to be unrealistic. You're not. You're not telling yourself one day, oh my gosh, I'm never going to feel better, and the next day you wake up and say, oh, I'm just going to tell myself I am fully healed, I feel amazing every single day. Okay, that might not be believable, so just little things that are believable, and look at the words and look at the thoughts that you're choosing. Are they serving you? If not, not make that little tweak, because it does have a profound impact over time. It's not a nighttime thing.

Speaker 3 19:51

Again, this is a, it's a journey yeah, yeah, I agree, and with making sure that you've realized that those little setbacks that will happen on your journey, that those are part of it.

Speaker 2 20:08

Yeah yeah. Healing is never linear, right. I would love to tell people it's always. You're always moving up. It's like, no, you're going to have really terrible days, maybe really awful weeks. That is normal, and Denise and I say this on probably every episode at this point. But healing is a journey. It's not a destination. So, even though you might be healing from Hashimoto's or healing from gut issues, something else is going to hit you and take you down, and that's just life. There are opportunities to learn and grow from.

Speaker 3 20:37

Yeah, yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 20:40

So what can you like? Let's say, someone's listening and they do have Hashimoto's. Where do you suggest that they start on their healing journey?

Speaker 3 20:54

well, I think loaded question right.

Speaker 3 20:58

So here's the thing with starting on your journey. So there's two things. One, I think we like healing your gut and making sure that that your gut health is optimal um is imperative, but it's it's kind of one of those things where that mindset piece, because if you don't believe that you can do it and you don't have that like mindset there, um you, it's hard to stay consistent and do the work that needs to happen to heal your gut Right, and so I feel like those go hand in hand. But I definitely think like if you truly want to start to see physical results, um, and you're ready, then starting with healing your gut. But I think that sometimes the mindset has to be in there too. It does.

Speaker 2 21:40

I totally agree. Sorry to interrupt you. I totally agree. But like, if the mindset isn't good, you're not going to make the changes that you need to make. You know, if you're always driving through fast food, you're like great, I'm going to heal my gut. I'm just going to take some probiotics. That's not going to work.

Speaker 3 21:54

great, I'm going to heal my gut, I'm just going to take some probiotics. That's not going to work, I know, yes, exactly. And then, and also feeling because because then that mindset piece sets in too, because once they go through, the drag through and they're like, oh, this is never going to work, this doesn't work, and so it becomes that it's not going to work, instead of they just need, you know, a little bit more support around the mindset part and to understand why they keep doing the same things.

Listen to Your Body for Healing

Speaker 2 22:20

Right, and so yeah, a hundred percent. Yeah, is there anything else you feel like you need to share today or that listeners need to hear?

Speaker 3 22:30

I would just say, like making sure that you know I guess that you know that taking care of yourself is important when we're out of alignment and we're pushing through exhaustion or ignoring our intuition, ignoring our gut or people pleasing or, you know, not setting boundaries and letting stress take over, that it keeps the body in a stress state, and that healing comes when we slow down and we listen to our bodies and we align our actions with what feels good.

Speaker 2 23:05

Love it, love it. So, if someone wants to connect with you, find you on social. What are the best places to find you?

Speaker 3 23:16

I would say I'm probably definitely the most active. On Facebook I'm just Robin Jamerson or on Instagram, which the holistic Hashimoto's coach.

Speaker 2 23:26

Perfect, and, guys, this is always in the show notes so you can check below. But thank you, Thank you so much for coming on. Yes, thank you for having me. All right, guys, you know what to do. Leave us a review, drop us a line on Instagram, let us know what you want to hear about and we will see you on the next episode.