6 years ago yesterday – July 1, 2019, I gathered with friends and family to celebrate the end of my Lyme treatment (4-5 years of it at that point) and the beginning of what we thought was remission.
6 months later my life changed drastically in many ways and I experienced a series of overlapping events (about 3.5 years of them) that contributed to the complete derailment of this state of health and eventually lead to me being more disabled than I ever had been before. Completely bedridden at times, unable to speak or eat in various periods.
I’ve learned a lot and I’ve begun to heal in deeper and more meaningful ways, but yesterday I stumbled across this old journal that was, in 2019, used as my guest book for this celebration. Despite the urge, I’m not going to spin this into a silver lining post for the palate of the internet.
It’s raw, and it should be.
It doesn’t mean there’s no light within the darkness of these illnesses.
It means I’m honoring where I’ve been and where I am, while I continue to work towards where I’m going.
I hope you do the same for your own journey.
Very few of the people who were celebrating with me then, are still standing beside me today, at least not in a close way. Sometimes you’re the only one who can “see” you for the things you’ve lived through, or how. And it’s so important that you do.
About Denise Elysa
Denise Elysa is a practitioner and teacher of multiple modalities including somatic inquiry, intuitive energy healing, past life regression, oracle card reading and meditation. Blending somatic inquiry, somatic parts work, nervous-system informed education, intuition and grounded spirituality, she helps people who feel disconnected or chronically unwell reconnect with themselves, increase their capacity and awaken their inner healer, without requiring medical validation or overwhelming routines.
While Denise works with guests of all different lifestyles, needs and backgrounds, she holds a special place in her heart for those living with complex chronic diseases such as ME/CFS, MCAS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, hEDS, Lyme disease and co-infections, as well as other coexisting conditions. After years of navigating her own recovery through over 30 different medical diagnoses, she is living out what she considers to be her life's work by supporting others in the same methods that got her out of a wheelchair and a life filled with anxiety, depression and disconnection, and back to herself. She does this through her online community - EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa, her 1:1 sessions - particularly her Bridge to Embodiment Program, and through her podcast - Coming Home to Ourselves with Denise Elysa. Additionally, she is contracted to two of the Internal Medicine Specialists at the BC-CLMF to co-facilitate group sessions for their patients.
How is Denise’s work different from others?
Over 13 years of experience in professionally supporting people with their health and wellbeing
Lived experience navigating complex chronic illness, Lyme disease and co-infections, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain conditions, trauma, disability, neurodivergence and nervous system healing
Contracted to Internal Medicine Specialists to co-facilitate offerings to their patients living with complex chronic diseases such as ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Post-Viral Illness, LC, MCAS, POTS, Chronic Pain, hEDS, and other co-occurring conditions
Foundation of her energy healing work is based in Therapeutic Touch® and acknowledged by the Therapeutic Touch International Association as meeting all criteria for each of their courses and is a member in good standing with the BCTTNS
