Episode 89. Heather Gray interviews Dorothy Leland and her daughter Rachel about Rachel's teen battle with Lyme disease. Misdiagnosed for 9 months, Rachel endured physical and mental struggles, including pain, cognitive issues, and depression. A Lyme Literate doctor and a special chiropractor became her turning points, leading to her recovery and current healthy life. Sharing her story through her journal, Rachel offers hope and insight for others facing similar challenges.

In this podcast, you will discover 

1:29: Dorothy explains how she got involved with Lyme disease.org after her daughter Rachel became sick.

3:13: Rachel explains how she developed knee pain as a soccer player and then other symptoms that led to her being diagnosed with Lyme disease.

5:07: Migrating pain often associated with Lyme disease and how it can be mistaken for other issues.

5:56: How her mental health deteriorated as her Lyme disease progressed and she dealt with gaslighting from medical professionals.

7:16: How many times Rachel was in a psychiatric facility, Rachel explains her one experience. why it wasn't helpful.

8:15: How difficult it was to have Rachel in the psychiatric facility and how she sought help from a specialist therapist.

11:08: Heather Gray FND-P compares her own experience of being diagnosed with celiac disease as an adult to Rachel's struggles with Lyme disease as a teenager.

12:11: How long it took to get a diagnosis and emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself.

13:25: How doctors sometimes dismiss patients' concerns about Lyme disease and even blame them for their illness.

17:03: Different treatments she tried to get better, including antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and chiropractic care.

21:10: Importance of maintenance care for people with Lyme disease to prevent relapses.

22:45: How her journal inspired her to write a book about her experience.

24:38: How difficult it must have been for Rachel to revisit the dark times in her life while writing the book.

25:22: Dorothy shares her perspective on reading Rachel's journal and how it revealed some things she didn't know about her daughter's experience

31:51: Importance of sharing Rachel's story and normalizing conversations about mental health challenges and Lyme disease.

32:13: Need to address the rising issue of adolescents struggling with mental health and Lyme disease.

34:32: Being misdiagnosed with Lyme disease due to its supposed non-existence in California.

35:17: Rachel shares a similar experience of being told Lyme disease wasn't possible in certain locations.

37:23: Criticizes the dismissive attitude towards Lyme disease based on geographical location.

40:09: How the Neural Retraining System (DNRS) helped her manage her health.

41:40: Heather criticizes the reliance on medication and highlights the effectiveness of alternative approaches like breathwork and somatic experiencing.

42:46: Heather shares an example of how managing stress helped her resolve a physical symptom.

Get Dr. Rawls: https://vitalplan.sjv.io/c/3904974/968557/12659 Make sure to use LYMEBOSS15 for 15% off

Finding Resilience, A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, by Rachel Leland and Dorothy Kupcha Leland

Website: resilientlyrachel.com/book/

Instagram: @ResilientlyRachel

Reach Heather Gray FDN-P here: [email protected]

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