Leah Carver - Undoing Hashimotos: A Guide to Managing Symptoms, Relieving Overwhelm & Living Well

Leah Carver offers a refreshing, empowering approach to wellness in Undoing Hashimotos . Her creative insights provide hope not only for those of us with autoimmune disorders, but for all women seeking a journey toward self-care. Undoing is the most transformative book I have read in some time. I felt the author was speaking directly to me in a calm, nonjudgmental, understanding way. The beauty of the book is also in its simplicity. Carver advocates for slow, small, gradual change while recognizing the reader could easily feel overwhelmed by the many layers of transformation that may needed. During my first read of Undoing , I became acutely aware of my burnt toast syndrome and began to introduce wellness techniques such as spending time in nature, exploring the benefits of water, and experimenting with hot and cold. I look forward to deepening my own wellness practice and look forward to sharing this book with family, friends, and patients.

- H OLLY L A S ALLE -R ICCI , P H D

Leah Carvers Undoing Hashimotos struck my core. I do not have Hashimotos and yet, I felt every word spoke to me. Well-written, clear, and with compassion, Carvers words touched every part of my life my marriage, my children, my professional life, my spiritual journey as a whole. I have implemented many of the simple practices and been reminded of my power and worth. I am grateful for this book and feel it is valuable for all people, regardless of the path.

- L ANI S COZZARI , MFA

A Guide to Managing Symptoms,
Relieving Overwhelm, and Living Well

LEAH CARVER

NEW YORK

LONDONNASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER

undoing HASHIMOTOS

A Guide to Managing Symptoms, Relieving Overwhelm and Living Well

2019 Leah Carver

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing in partnership with Difference Press. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

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ISBN 9781683509394 paperback

ISBN 9781683509400 eBook

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018930954

Cover Design by:

Christopher Kirk

www.GFSstudio.com

Interior Design by:

Chris Treccani

www.3dogcreative.net

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For my many teachers, all shapes and sizes.

Maybe who we are isnt so much about what we do, but rather what were capable of when we least expect it.

J ODI P ICOULT

I know you have been researching all the right things to do since you got your diagnosis of Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Maybe you have even tried to go on the Auto-Immune Paleo Diet or some other form of an elimination/anti-inflammatory diet, but things came up: a birthday party or holiday. Maybe you just dont feel good and feel like you need sugar to get you through the day. But you know you cant stay where you are, or things wont get better. You know the only way to make the pain better is to try something different, but you dont know where to start and you dont want to fail again.

It is not easy to hold yourself accountable and make changes when you dont feel well. You may be struggling with brain fog, fatigue, physical pain, headaches, depression, and so much more. When you look to Facebook groups, some people seem to have had no problem making the lifestyle changes they needed and yet here you are, struggling to understand or even remember what you just read you were supposed to do. How come it seems easy for some people and almost impossible for you? Why dont you have the willpower to make these necessary changes?

I spent lots of time ruminating on the answers to these questions. I discovered that it wasnt something I needed to push myself to create, in fact, it was the opposite. It was not more self-discipline, it was pulling back, looking inward, and reassessing the foundations I had built.

Stop putting unrealistic expectations on yourself and then having to deal with the feeling of failure or anger or shame when you fail. Its time to shift the way you look at the problem. Dont waste important energy blaming yourself for getting sick or thinking that somehow you deserve this. In general, life is a figure-it-out-as-you-go kind of thing. You may have a masters degree in business or education, for example, but it doesnt mean you should be able to navigate all of lifes twists and turns alone. Instead, know that you are going to struggle and that there is no place of unchanging perfection. Allow the struggle, but work to build resiliency and stability. This is the key question: How can we set ourselves up for success? Right now, what you know is that you are not feeling well, and youre probably exhausted and just wishing for a miracle. If you can just put your trust in me for a little while, know that I have been there in the struggle just like you, completely exhausted, and with not much left to give. I know how to start shifting the way you are feeling, because I did it for myself and for many others. Let me help the tired, overwhelmed you navigate this part of the journey. Of course you wish this was not your situation, but it is, and now you will have the tools to transform. Right now, you may be wishing everything could just go back to how it was before the pain, and while that is not something I can guarantee, my hope for you is that you will grow profoundly. If you integrate these steps into your life, you will begin to once again feel inspired and excited about life.

In this book, I will present to you some information that changed the game for me. Ill introduce you to tools that will awaken the power within you and help you feel a renewed sense of purpose in life.

I know there is a part of you right now that understands how important it is for you to make these changes. After all, here you are, reading another book in the hopes of gaining some more awareness and information on how to get well. How to respond on the days you feel pain, what to do when you are exhausted, and what you can take a chance on doing on the days when you feel pretty darn great. With autoimmune disease, you basically have two choices: suffer and continually see your symptoms get worse, or chose to engage and show up in a way that feels powerful and true. The latter way, there may still be days of pain, but not so much suffering.