Danna LaRue, Founder
Thyroid Nation

Healing Hashimoto’s with help from my good friend, Stacey Robbins

A review on a must read book from my amazing friend and thyroid advocate, Stacey Robbins. You’re Not Crazy and You’re Not Alone: Losing the Victim, Finding Your Sense of Humor, and Learning to Love Yourself Through Hashimoto’s

Shines a flashlight on the emotional, physical, and spiritual journey within women with this autoimmune dis-ease. ~SR

 

Stacey is the “Real Deal”! At least that is my nickname for her. Want a friend to listen to the good, the bad and the ugly and not be judgmental? Need a person to hold your hand while dealing with horrible health news? Longing for someone who isn’t going to blow smoke up your ass, about anything? She’s your gal.

I was privileged to read Stacey’s book, early on in my Hashimotos journey. For that fact alone, I am very grateful. Now it is like my go-to, inspirational and down-to-earth, health bible and spiritual guide. It is just one of those books that you really don’t want to loan to anyone, because you refer to it and use it so often. 🙂 You can pick it up, start on any chapter and immediately feel comforted. A few pages is sometimes all I need. Other times, I catch myself re-reading 2 or 3 chapters before I realize what time it is. With raw, radiating realness the pages fly by. I laugh hysterically and then I stop and read it to my husband and then we laugh all over again. Needless to say, I keep it close at hand.

The book is laid out so wonderfully, and is so brilliantly written, that you don’t WANT to put it down. (which I didn’t)

Her book doesn’t have any fancy medical jargon, although it is very apparent that Stacey is well-versed on all things Hashimoto’s and thyroid related. She’s been through it all and she allows you to walk hand-in-hand with her, along her journey as she effortlessly tells stories of sorrows and joy.

It is not a scientific book and doesn’t have a medical approach. If you are looking for and wanting more of a diagnostic, easy to read and amazing, remedy book, read, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, who also wrote the Forward to Stacey’s book.

And, as the book adresses, I have to admit, I did feel a bit crazy for a long time. My emotions were all over the map, my circadian rhythm was never right and my hormones felt totally out of whack (probably since my teens, but that is another story) Unbeknownst to me, I was hypothyroid my entire life. Which makes perfect sense now.

It wasn’t until recently that I discovered I had Hashimotos and Adrenal Fatigue and even having a diagnosis, I STILL feel a bit crazy at times. But when I read her book, I honestly and truly do NOT feel alone or crazy. (I’m not the only one that walks into a room 15 times and forgets why. I’m also not the only one that wakes up after a full nights sleep and cannot wait to take a nap) She says things in the book, in actual print, that probably everyone thinks, but would never consider saying, much less typing.

That to me, is real, honest and genuine. I love that. She’s the real deal.

Stacey opens up her heart and lays it out on the table. Letting the reader learn things that most people could never share about their own lives. She is not hiding. She is on an enlightenment path, a path she’s eagerly willing to share with others. (and does as a Health Coach coach, here) 

I know for me, this is exactly what I wanted. What I still want. Help from someone who gets it and isn’t going to think I’m nutso.

Delving into a book, is a different experience for everyone. Not everyone will relate to every story or interpret it in the same way. However, Stacey’s book, just isn’t like that. Truly. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from reading it. Yes, I’m talking about people WITHOUT thyroid disease, too. It is a quick, easy to follow guide that gives solutions to real life (and sometimes ugly) situations with examples and ideas to implement them with. (which I do)

It takes so much courage, I would imagine, to put yourself ‘out there’ in a book. Stacey did just that, without a second thought. Apparently, she is on a mission to reach as many sufferers as possible, wanting to help support them along the way. Whether you are new to the dis-ease or not. She talks frankly about her husband and her overly opinionated, but very close-knit, Italian family. She is so open, yet vulnerable, as she guides you along her healing journey and your own. You don’t even realize you are engaging in and dissecting your own health path until you come out on the other side, feeling grateful.

It resonated with me so much, that eventually I reached out to her. I truly didn’t think she’d get back with me. Which was fine. (But, to my surprise and delight, she did) My purpose in emailing her, wasn’t really to get a reply. It was just to thank her. From me and from the millions of others that might not get through to her. I needed to share with her that her wonderful writing hadn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, it made us feel better and feel normal and we were the better for it. All of us. We had new-found tools to aid us in our autoimmune dis-ease diagnosis treatment plan.

Stacey’s book inspired me to look at Hashimoto’s and my life, in a new light. I was able to identify some of my insecurities and past life experiences that I hadn’t wanted to look at before. Like, never feeling validated, for instance. Or, it caused me to take a deep look at the fact that I was accidentally, ‘conditionally’ loved. Ouch! I had no idea just how important it is for your health, to have inner peace and overall happiness, in order for your body to start the process of recuperating and healing, until I put the book down. Then…. I got it!

It was like a spiritual journey in which I found myself asking questions and reflecting on things I hadn’t deemed necessary or import to this thyroid experience. I also found myself gaining confidence and wisdom about how I was going to tackle this disease.

You’re Not Crazy And You’re Not Alone: Losing the Victim, Finding Your Sense of Humor, and Learning to Love Yourself Through Hashimoto’s

I identified with this book on so many levels as I glided effortlessly through every single page. Her writing style is now and real. Balancing humor along with healing and tragedy is a difficult talent to express. However, I was laughing and crying, all in the same breath. It feels good. It felt normal and easy.

I no longer feel alone. I know now I am not. I am the OPPOSITE of crazy. (Well, my husband and kids might disagree some days!) I am a strong powerful woman. I have listened to the past. I have learned from the past. I am slowing healing and will get through this, despite what others may say.  I felt a new sense of confidence while reading her book. At one point I felt transported, as if I were on the outside looking in and was able to discover some real truths about my past, that I wasn’t open to before. (This is a new concept for me, because before reading this book, I would never have been able to have such deep insight and openness to some of my past experiences and relationships) Sometimes, Stacey is brutally honest and in turn, made me rethink so many things about my life that I thought were certainties. It feels good to feel empowered after reading a book.

There are many deep, powerful, inspiring, award-winning, New York Times best-selling authors out there that have have that ability. Stacey Robbins is well on her way and I believe has the same effect on people. This book, is just a really great read.

With Stacey’s assistance, I am finally learning to love myself and look at this dis-ease with a bit of humor. You’re Not Crazy And You’re Not Alone: Losing the Victim, Finding Your Sense of Humor, and Learning to Love Yourself Through Hashimoto’s is a healing breath of fresh air.

Stacey Robbins is truly, the ‘Real Deal’ and I’m grateful to call her a friend.