About Me
Who Am I?
My name is Debbie Shepheard.
Nearing my sixth decade, I found myself starting over, again. Divorced for the second time, disabled due to illness, unable to support myself, depressed, anxiety-ridden and all but hopeless.
I took a hard look, a deep breath and decided some changes needed to be made. This is a journey. But it isn't just my journey.
I have met many wonderful people who are suffering as I have and decided to create a space to share what has helped us all to improve our lives. The hope is to alleviate the suffering, for all of us, through sharing.
Welcome.
More About Me
Who was I?
I was diagnosed with Chronic Depression in 1978, Fibromyalgia (FM) in 2001, Anxiety Disorder in 2011, Hypothyroidism in 2014 and Lupus in 2020.
After years of working, raising my family, supporting my first husband in his business and (terminal) illness, working at my own business, building a home on an acreage and all that goes with that, my body finally said "ENOUGH!"
In 2000 I quit smoking (after 25 years of it) when my husband's doctor insisted he had to quit in order to have a lung transplant. Within a month, I was in terrible pain, unable to move (paralysis), unbelievable weight gain (50 lbs), unable to perform the most simple acts like getting dressed, or sometimes even thinking. Some days I couldn't remember much more than my name, my impairment was so extreme. I thought I was going insane. I wasn't. I was ill.
It was a year before I got the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia (FM). I chose not to go the drug route and stuck with naturopathy over allopathy.
Instead of medicines, I focused on nutrition, movement, education and spirituality. From 2003- 2005 I was in remission; lost all the weight I needed to, was able to walk the dog (most days), started working again and managed my own home. Because of this, I know it can be done.
However, I fell back into illness after re-marrying and living with the wrong person for the next twelve years, bringing us to the present and the reason I decided to start this site. Starting over, again, together.
Site Content
Definitions
Allopathy: the treatment of disease by conventional means, i.e., with drugs having opposite effects to the symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals.
Homeopathy: the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease.
Naturopathy: a system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage.