Invisible Illness Advocacy:
On the Road to Understanding
Neuro-Psychological Conditions
My personal and academic experience focuses on a handful of underrepresented disorders which share similar symptoms.
Autonomic dysfunction (POTS, OI, other forms of dysautonomia)
Complex PTSD
Concussion recovery
Migraine
Post-COVID symptoms
Whether personal or practical, any experiences shared under this page demonstrate the importance of raising awareness and supporting those with extremely challenging circumstances to live.
So Proudly Dominican - My Graduation Story
When I first toured at Dominican University, I had two knee-jerk reactions.
1) I was astounded by the resemblance to Hogwarts. Like, I was expecting Harry Potter to pop out any second …
2) I had an inkling I’d go here, anticipating four years and a degree.
I was right about attending, but grossly underestimated the timeline. I’d dabble in fine arts, and long-term, I’d get my masters, working in occupational therapy. I had a history of autonomic dysfunction and chronic health conditions, so I felt a calling to help out that community.
Honey, I had a big storm coming! It was a hurricane of health challenges, which included autonomic dysfunction, concussion recovery, and neurologic symptoms following COVID-19. After a medical leave in 2022, I almost dropped out. Insecure that it would be my last, I returned for one semester as a part-time student. I had neither the stamina or the confidence that I once carried as a teen, but I had deep love for the DU community, and that kept me eager to show up. I felt nursed by the Holy Spirit here, whether I was recharging alone in the chapel, or being served by the smiling faces in dining hall. Even after my besties graduated, the new group of Dominican stars were so kind and uplifting.
Academically, my first class when I came back was influential. I fell into the path of Dr Sophia Duffy as a student in her Neuropsych class. I previously had her for a course that evaluated neurological and psychological tests, which helped me understand the brain on such a new level. This class was even better. It was a life-changing capstone course, which deeply explored trauma, how it affects the body, and how to heal. What a blessing this was, as it paved the way for my own road to healing and my path, as a professional wellness guide. People tend to find themselves in college, but that alone is an understatement when I think about my years here. Within the Dominican walls, I felt like I was cared for, supported in my darkest hour. I found God in my recovery, my daily bread and butter. I felt reborn as I was rebooting my brain, body and soul.
My electives were a medley of my passions and therapeutic methods. “Embody what you love, who you are as you are.“ I checked off some must have skills, like entrepreneurship and literature. I didn’t hold back with diving into things loved, like my internship in forest therapy or my fashion classes, exploring self-care amidst chronic illness. My electives echoed my major in psychology, with elements of neuroscience and rehabilitation, but embodied an overarching message of healing and joy. It was a very simple formula for a business plan that I intend to enter the DU launchpad in time.
When I remember my teenage tour of Dominican University, I chuckle at my first impressions, all the Harry Potter references. Ironically, getting my bachelors degree in psychology took me the length of that movie series. But it was all worth it with the end goal bringing a degree, a quest, and a footprint in Dominican Legacy.
I am eternally grateful, and these long years were filled with incredible love.