Some of you have asked — and others might have quietly wondered — What do I do to take care of my own health?
It’s a fair question. As a chiropractor, I spend my days helping others feel better in their bodies, supporting their healing journeys. But the truth is, I had to start my own healing journey long before I ever became a chiropractor.
How It All Began
I started seeing a chiropractor as a teenager after a soccer injury left me unable to run and struggling with persistent back pain. That chiropractor, Dr. Tony Ottaviano, not only helped me recover — he also inspired me to pursue this path myself.
Years later, after moving to Ottawa in 1998, I found myself in need of care again. I discovered the Clinique Chiropractique de St. Joseph in Hull, where Dr. Pierre and Dr. Christine became not only my practitioners but also my mentors and friends. I’ve been seeing them ever since.
Why I Keep Going
I don’t just go for back pain or injuries. I go because I want to stay clear, resilient, and focused — in my work and in my life. Being present with my patients requires a high level of clarity and emotional awareness. I can’t guide others toward healthy, connected living unless I’m doing the work myself.
If I want to help people become more self-aware and connected to their inner healer, I need to be on that journey too.
The Mind-Body Connection
Recently, during one of his visits, a patient named Jim and I got into a deep conversation. We were reflecting on how suppressing emotions can be a major contributor to many chronic health issues — including cancer, autoimmune conditions, and digestive disorders like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
Jim shared that he often struggles to even feel his emotions, let alone name them. That struck a chord with me.
I remember a time when I felt very much the same way — dissociated, numb, and out of touch with what I was feeling. If you’ve never experienced dissociation, it can be hard to understand. It feels like you’re overwhelmed with sensations, yet disconnected from them at the same time. You’re flooded, but you can’t identify what’s happening. You can’t talk about it because you can’t even name it.
Dissociation is a survival strategy. It protects you. But it also keeps you from living fully.
Learning to Feel Again
My way out of dissociation was through reconnecting with my body. I learned to listen to the signals it was sending me — not just emotionally, but physically. I created safety within myself to feel what was real.
Slowly, I began to dissociate less. And when I do now, I notice it more quickly. I’ve learned how to bring myself back.
It’s not always easy. And I didn’t do it alone.
Having someone you trust — a guide or a support — makes all the difference. That’s part of what I hope to offer the people I serve: not just pain relief, but a pathway back to themselves.