Everything shifted when I started working closely with Amanda Swan at Swan Integrative Health & Wellness in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Amanda has been my provider for years, but during this season, her care meant something even deeper to me. She is patient, thorough, and incredibly responsive. Most importantly, she knows how to listen. Not the kind of listening where someone nods quickly and rushes you out, but real listening. The kind that makes you feel safe enough to say, “Something isn’t right,” and trust that you will be taken seriously. Every time I left her office, I felt calmer and genuinely cared for, like I was in good hands.

And this experience reminded me of something I think applies to so many areas of life: when you are struggling, the right person in your corner can change everything. Someone who is aligned with your values. Someone who is patient. Someone who cares about you, not just the problem.

Here are four lessons I’m carrying forward, in case you are ever in a season where you have to advocate for your health.

1. Keep track of everything.
One of the most practical things that helped me was writing everything down. Amanda uses a secure patient portal where I could send short updates about symptoms and changes. To make it easier for both of us, I created a simple timeline, not fancy, just clear.

I tracked:

• When my symptoms started.
• What I tried, and on what dates.
• When I took certain medications.
• What changed afterward.

At first, it felt tedious. But then something important happened: patterns started to show up. The timeline gave us a shared “map” to look at together, and it helped Amanda and I connect the dots. It reminded me that good information creates clarity, and clarity leads to better decisions.

2. The right provider can change everything.
There is a big difference between being rushed and being heard. Amanda listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and offered different options to try, step by step. She never made me feel like I was “too much” or overreacting. That kind of care changes your nervous system. It makes the situation feel less scary, less lonely, and more manageable.

3. Support systems matter more than we realize.
This season also showed me who my “rocks” really are. The people who checked on me, took me to urgent care, picked up prescriptions, and helped me stay grounded became my stability and my foundation.

When you are not feeling well, you learn quickly that healing is not only physical. It is emotional. It is mental. And having people who truly show up for you makes a real difference. I could not have gotten through this without the people who loved me well.

4. Pain can become purpose.
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I felt something shift in me. I remembered Reiki.

I took Reiki Level 1 back in 2018, and this experience has inspired me to return to it with a deeper intention. I want to support people who are in pain, even if the relief is temporary. I want to give back, because I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable, uncertain, and searching for answers. For now, I am joining Reiki shares and practicing. Over time, I would love to volunteer, and I will see where this journey takes me.

If you are going through something similar, I want you to know you are not alone. You deserve answers. You deserve real care. You deserve someone who listens, takes you seriously, and stays with you as you figure it out. And you deserve people around you who will hold you up on the hard days, until you can stand steady again.