Welcome to Radiance Coaching & Wellness.
I’m a firm believer in learning from other people’s experiences to save you time instead of figuring some things out on your own. As hard as it’s been, every tear, every appointment, every challenge has brought me here, to you.
Dionne Reed
My Journey
My health and wellness journey isn’t anything crazy but discovering the connection between my issues was a huge eye opener for me. In 2012, I started experiencing extreme joint pain. At first I thought I’d sprained my finger, but then it moved to my wrist, then my knee, then back to my finger—it was never consistent and usually only lasted about 48 hours. I had X-rays and blood tests, saw multiple doctors, and had access to an ‘on demand’ appointment list with a Rheumatologist—no one could figure it out. The thought of rheumatoid arthritis or lupus was thrown around but blood work came back negative. Reluctant to accept another dead end, I began to do my own research.
I started keeping track of what I ate and what I was doing during the days leading up to the pain. I remember not being able to do my hair because the pain in my right elbow was so intense.
It was affecting my job and daily life. I eventually shifted to a holistic approach which provided some more answers. Then, all of a sudden, it stopped. My pain went from an almost biweekly occurrence to nothing. What changed?
"My pain went from an almost biweekly occurrence to nothing."
My health care providers and myself eventually realized my pain wasn’t an autoimmune issue, it was stress-induced. Not only was stress doing its usual thing like making me irritable or giving me digestive problems, but it was also creating pain in my body to force me to SLOW DOWN. Seriously?
Reflecting back on it, there were signs but I didn’t listen to them. I kept pushing, I kept increasing the pressure I put on myself to over-achieve and over-commit to things. I ignored the little signs so much that my body had to physically make me slow down.
Something had to change.
"If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream. "
Unknown
During this same time frame, I was experiencing extreme anxiety which was triggered by time. I never felt like I had enough time to do things. I would have timelines in my head of how long I’d be here or there, then I needed to be home so I could have enough time to do my night routine and be in bed on time. I could be out with friends and I would be going through my timelines in my head and stressing myself out because the appetizers were taking longer than my timeline allowed. My anxiety robbed me of fun with friends, it robbed me of quality time filled with joy, and it robbed me of being present with the people I love because I was too focused on the future.
Ironically, it was my anxiety around time that stole time from me. My anxiety had other triggers too but time has been my biggest struggle. To make it worse, I wouldn’t communicate these timelines and worries to people which led to me breaking down sobbing over seemingly minimal things because I couldn’t handle it all anymore. I remember breaking down after hitting my leg, trust me the physical pain hurt, but once the tears started it was a floodgate of all the emotions and stress that I had held in for months and years before that. I’d gotten so good at busying myself with stress and hustling that I never dealt with my actual emotions. Here, I realized why I was stuck in the struggle, believing I’d always be anxious and never able to feel happy. Sound familiar?
"Ironically, it was my anxiety around time that stole time from me."
I tried multiple versions of therapy that helped but didn’t quite get to the root of the problem. Then, as life does, I found my answers when I wasn’t looking as hard for them. I found what I didn’t know I needed when I enrolled in the Hungry for Happiness Certification program.
Since then, I’ve identified the root of my anxieties and have found new tools to help me stop the spin of anxiety when I feel it starting. I’ve stopped running away from the ‘bad’ feelings that I used to let build up and explode. I’ve developed new skills that allow me to be present and enjoy the little things instead of being stuck in my head all the time.
I’ve felt the improvements of all of the services that I offer my clients in my own life. I want to share my experiences to impact the greater good.
"I want to share my experiences to impact the greater good."
