Multiple Sclerosis: An Integrated Approach to Healing
“The journey of integrating the various components of medicine was very important to my healing — so I don’t attribute any one thing because they were layered, and so I don’t know how they interacted, but I know they did.”
I met Justine Fedak at BIÂN Chicago where I serve as the Director of Ayurveda and she serves as the Chief Marketing & Culture Officer. When she shared her story with me, I was so inspired that I just had to have her share her healing journey on The Healing Catalyst podcast.
I learned so much from Justine that I want to share some highlights with you.
Hiding and avoiding increases suffering.
When Justine shared her reluctance to tell people she has multiple sclerosis, she said “hiding takes all your energy away.” And I think this is so true. When you avoid your true feelings or hide your authentic self, it’s exhausting.
Hiding and avoiding blocks the path to healing. If you aren’t willing to acknowledge your own pain, you might miss opportunities to heal symptoms. You might miss the support of loving friends who would show up for you if only they knew.
Interventions of joy.
Justine avoided Western medical interventions for multiple sclerosis for ten years. But when she lost all mobility, she decided it was time to make a change. She found two doctors who understood her desire to stay rooted in joy.
And I want to highlight that last piece about joy. It’s easy to feel scared and overwhelmed when you’re exploring medical treatments for any ailment. Justine knew that she wanted doctors who were aligned with her spirit of joy and desire to see herself as a whole person.
Energy as medicine.
By the time coronavirus swept the globe, Justine’s mobility had improved. She walked with a cane, even in public. But then…total isolation as she quarantined.
Feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, Justine tuned into herself completely, reading anything about energy healing she could find. She began to recognize and understand her internal signals, catching things like fear before they turned into outright panic. She journeyed into herself, not expecting this to change her perspective of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
Then she noticed that she could feel her toes and feet again. She no longer needed to hold onto things as she navigated her home. Justine’s symptoms faded into the background. When her doctors learned of the change, they asked if they could do some testing. Multiple sclerosis was still present. But she didn’t have any symptoms.
An integrative approach to healing.
What I love most about Justine’s story is that she explored multiple healing modalities. She took in the best advice of her physicians, dove deep into her inner knowing, and practiced self-healing in every area of her life. She listened closely and responded to what she heard within.
I’m so glad to be able to share Justine’s story with you. I hope you’ll listen to the episode where she shares even more about her life, including:
Growing up with a conservative father and a “hippie” mother
The unique and tender legacy of her relationship with her grandfather
More about her healing journey with multiple sclerosis
Be well,
Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD
P.S. You may also enjoy these powerful healing stories:
