Introduce yourself, I want to know your story and how your managing your disease. I want to share experiences and challenges that come with it.

mourning the person you have always been and accepting the new person that you have been forced to become. Are you going through this process and how is your self talk?

When Io was diagnosed 27 years ago I was LOST! I wasnt sure who I even was anymore or how to navigate being this person with a life changing disease. I had a lot of emotions to work through. Although I had my family and friends telling me that I would be ok. I was NOT ok and still to this day I have days when I want to throw in the towel and give up. I had to face this challenge alone! I wanted someone to save me but no one could. No one understood me even when I would tell them what was going on. I realized not long after I was diagnosed that I needed to create a community where I could be of service to others like me. My endevours led me to health/life coaching. I couldn't work anymore due to some very uncontrollable symptoms. I started my own small business as I needed to keep an income. I'm now full with gratitude for this diagnosis and being able to guide others on this very difficult and un predictable journey. Please reach out to me if your someone who could use the support that I offer and we will work together to navigate all of these challenging times as partners. [email protected] is the easiest way to set up a consultation. Love and Light Colleen

How do you feel today compared to when you were first diagnosed? When I reflect on those early days I can say I've come along way from just wanting to give up to finding purpose in this challenge. I've become a health coach and give others permission to be honest and real about the course of the disease that they are in. Unfiltered rants are very welcomed here. Please use this safe place to ask questions and recieve information from other people that actually can relate. I'm excited to get to know you and learn from you as you learn from me.

In the first few years of my diagnosis, I was ashamed, embarrassed and fearful of losing people and relationships. I thought that if I told people what I'm dealing with, it would push them away. I was wrong!!!! Yes some people fell off and started to avoid me for fear of not knowing what to do or how to act around me. I realized that keeping this diagnosis to myself was actually hurting me and that sharing my story opens up the dialogue for others to open up and share theirs. Opening up and talking about your journey is healing for yourself and you learn that while you feel so alone there are so many others feeling the same way, experiencing the same challenges that you convinced yourself no one could ever understand. Since sharing my journey, I've wondered how I can be of service to support others like me on this journey and in turn it help me too. I'm now a health coach. Ive been coaching newly diagnosed MS warriors since 2022 to strategize living with this disease in meaningful ways. We touch on a variety of challenges.