Green Pastures Australia

Hi, my name is Katrina and I would love you to share in my journey from sickness to health.

Growing up we were always a health conscious family. It’s amazing how trying to be healthy made us so sick!

At the young age of 11, I decided that eating meat was off the agenda and became a strict vegetarian. For my mother, this was somewhat of a shock and for a long while I simply ate the vegetables off the plate of our regular meat and 3 veg evening meals. Gradually we learnt how to cook with lentils and tofu. As I became a weight-conscious teenager I decided that dairy was off the agenda too, along with fat of any kind and I soon became converted to loving soy milk. Fruit and vegetables, lentils, bread and soy milk became my staple diet. Upon graduating High School I decided to follow my dreams and began a 3 year full-time dance degree. I had never been very athletic and I didn’t have any dance experience, but I managed to get accepted on the basis of “potential”! Well, I actually did quite well, but it soon took a toll on my body. I began getting regular urinary tract infections and part way through second year I came down with a major kidney infection and was off for 3 weeks (I thought I was dying I felt so sick). I never seemed to regain strength from that point on, but I did manage to complete my degree. In third year I suffered form anxiety, panic attacks and depression (undiagnosed and untreated).

The following year I got married and attempted to hold down a part-time job, but regularly called in sick. I cried regularly and even simple decisions such as which bread to buy became difficult. However, I decided to take up study again and began my Post Grad in Dance Movement Therapy. I struggled to complete the first year part time. The saving grace came in an unexpected form - I fell pregnant!

I was overjoyed and terrified at the same time. If I couldn’t look after myself how could I look after a baby?? I had a wonderful pregnancy (all those good hormones I think!) and an amazing natural birthing experience. The words “It’s a girl!” will ring clear in my ears forever.

The months after her birth were a mixture of joy and depression. Sleep deprivation has a way of bringing to the surface issues that were previously well-concealed and although
I never felt disconnected from my daughter, depression was well-established. A wonderful G.P. combined with a wonderful counsellor saw the next 18 months become a time of growth and healing.

Then just as I was coming to the surface to breath…Chronic Fatigue Syndrome swept me under once more. Crashes, body aches and pains, brain fog, exhaustion at the smallest amount of exertion and a feeling that my life had been taken away. Sound familiar to anyone?

That was when a friend brought along a book that changed everything! Jordan Rubin’s “The Great Physicians Treatment for Health and Wellness”. . . More soon.