This is far more nerve-racking than I thought it would be.Ā
Iām Magda, and Iām a newly graduated holistic nutritionist. I am passionate about serving others and teaching healthy lifestyle through food, exercise and supplements. I also manage a little health food store. Ā To my customers, I am lean, my skin is clear, and Iām usually smiling. Ā Iām told I look healthy. However flattering that is, I definitely donāt feel healthy. Ā Hereās confession number one: I went to KFC today.
WHAT?! Are you outraged? How could someone whoās supposed to represent healthy living eat f**king garbage? GMOs, factory farms, trans fats, general shittiness all around! Ā
In fact, all through my nutrition program I hid my shame from most of my classmates. I would hit the McDonaldās drive-thru on my way to school and wolf it down on the ride there, making sure to hide the wrappers in case anyone were to peer into my car. Then in class we would learn how deep-fried foods are as damaging to your body as smoking is. Some days Iād bring a green smoothie to school, or some homemade healthy snack. Those days I felt like I fit in. But I also felt like a hypocrite.Ā
More often than not, at nights I would binge drink because it was the easiest, fastest way to relieve stress. Ā Stress over what?Ā
I had just gone through a painful break-up, instigated by me. Ā Being alone and cut off from my then ex was enough for me to want to numb the pain. Then there was school. My first three attempts at post-secondary education ended up with me quitting because I got overwhelmed easily. Ā It was usually a scholarly paper that got me so anxious that Iād rather drop the course than write the damn paper. Ā I was also working two part time jobs while in school, and felt like I never had enough time to study. I did have the time. I just chose to drink instead.
Maybe I should back this up and give you a little more context. Ā
I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder 7 years ago, 5 of which I took Effexor. After a few years on it, I felt it didnāt really do much more than dull my emotions. Ā I was still depressed. So I weaned off. Three times. Ā I wonāt go into the nightmare that was Effexor withdrawal... perhaps a story for another post!
Iāve been anti-depressant-free for nearly two years now. But I self-medicate with alcohol, Benadryl and junk food (formerly weed too, but I canāt use it anymore without getting anxious). The use tends to happen in spurts. Iām well aware of what Iām doing to myself! I feel horrible about it all, which contributes to the downward spiral.Ā
Anyhoo! Iām not writing this to elicit sympathy or be a sob story. Ā Iām doing this because the world needs to know that Iām not perfect, and that Iām trying, and that weāre all trying. Iām learning to be kinder to myself, as if I were my own nutrition client. I also want to be accountable to you, my audience. Ā Iām likely not the only nutritionist who binge drinks and goes to McDonaldās too often. But through my searches I havenāt found one whoās gone public on the interwebs about it. Ā If you are out there, my brethren, join me in freeing your conscience!
Time to wrap this up (like the spicy chicken wrap I had at KFC...) *nervous laughter*