About
“Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see – in the mind’s eye – a path to a better future.” – Jerome Groopman, The Anatomy of Hope
In April of 1997, when I was a junior in college, I woke up one morning, went to the bathroom, tried to sit down on the toilet, and instead fell on the floor. Later that afternoon, the doctor at the Student Health Center told me I had Vertigo, a viral infection of the inner ear. What I didn’t know then was that I was experiencing the first in more than a decade of symptomatic episodes caused by Multiple Sclerosis. The Vertigo – which gave me the spins as if I were on my third bottle of wine and a dizziness that was nearly unbearable – lasted about two weeks. But even when the spins had subsided, I was still spun. My life, without asking my permission, had just taken an unexpected turn. That morning – though I certainly didn’t know it then – was the beginning of a twelve-year healing journey that has brought me to this sentence, on this blog, today.
I wasn’t diagnosed with MS until July of 2007, exactly a decade later. During that time I would be sick for a while, and then ok for a while, then sick again, then ok, then sick. It was a maddening and mysterious roller coaster for me – perplexing and frustrating for those around me. During those ten years I lost faith in the dogma of doctors and sought healing from places like diet, acupuncture, books, chiropractors, and more. When I was finally diagnosed, though I was in some ways relieved and comforted to have “solved” the mystery, I quickly realized that suddenly belonging to a club called Multiple Sclerosis didn’t mean I would be healing any faster. In fact, I discovered that the culture of MS wasn’t about healing at all, it was about “managing.” This is not exclusive to Multiple Sclerosis, of course – it characterizes most of the Western medicine paradigm. Symptoms are managed with drugs, but the root cause of the imbalance is never addressed.
In my visits with various neurologists, not one even mentioned the possibility of healing from this illness. The MS brochure published by my doctor’s office had photos of people smiling in wheelchairs. I was told there were many drugs from which to choose, though none, it seemed, could reliably prevent the progress or even stop flare-ups. At no point was diet discussed with me, except when I brought it up and was told patronizingly that “I could try that for a little while.” The link between stress and symptoms was mentioned as a one-sentence afterthought. Acupuncture wasn’t completely dismissed, but it wasn’t endorsed either, and at best it was seen as complementary to the standard drug regimen. When I suggested to one particular neurologist recently that I was likely going to continue treating my illness with the diet and supplement regimen I had been on, he drew me a picture. It contained three lines, all sloping downward at different trajectories, representing my three potential futures (according to him) depending on at what point I decided to take the medication. On my way home, I marveled at how many patients those three downward-sloping lines had taken hope away from. I wondered how many patients couldn’t even consider the possibility that healing was possible with a picture like that drawn for them by a man of such authority.
I learned that the culture of MS had amazingly low standards and expectations for what was possible, and I would have to travel outside that paradigm if I had any hope of healing.
Fortunately, and poignantly, when I got the call confirming my MS diagnosis in 2007 I was sitting in front of a master reality creator, Dr. Joseph Riggio. Joseph is the architect and designer of the Mythogenic Self Process. He coaches his clients to create breakthroughs in their lives by teaching them how to begin from a position where the problems are not, where you start from how you are at your very best, when you know that anything is possible and that you can do anything. I had been studying with Joseph for several years, achieving many of my own breakthroughs as well as learning the skills to facilitate others in beginning from how they are when they’re at their best. I had gone for my first MRI several days prior to leaving for the training in California.
When the call came, I was extremely distraught, and Joseph brought me outside to speak to me privately. We were sitting on lounge chairs next to the pool in the courtyard of the hotel where the training was being held. I remember watching the small blue ripples in the pool and feeling the warm sun on my shoulders and wondering how the nightmare I was living could be taking place on such a beautiful California afternoon. It was then that Joseph said something that would become the guiding arc for how I dealt with my illness from that moment forward. He said, “You have a crucial choice to make and you need to make it now. You’re either going to be a victim or you’re going to take control. Most people make this choice upon their diagnosis and don’t ever remake it, and the path they’ve chosen will be obvious to anyone who knows them. It will influence how sick you get, and it will determine the quality of the life you lead. So, which is it going to be?”
I will never forget that moment, because it was my own call to adventure. And I did heed the call. I chose to take control, even though, in that moment, I had no idea what that meant. Today, I have a clearer idea, and I’ve made it my life’s work to be a conduit for the wisdom of healers everywhere and anywhere, from various disciplines, with various backgrounds and interests and methodologies. Additionally, I’ve chosen to use my training as an associate facilitator of the Mythoself Process and a trainer of the Human Operating System (a behavioral software model created by Devon White and based on the Mythoself Process) to work exclusively with those who have Multiple Sclerosis or other chronic illnesses. I feel blessed to bring to my clients a rather unusual and valuable coupling – I have both the first-hand experience of living with a chronic illness AND the skills to consistently operate from a position in which I am at my best and ANYTHING is possible, and the skills necessary to teach others to do the same.
Theselfhealingcoach.com is my effort to learn and discover all that I can about what it means to not just be symptom-free, but to be robustly, vibrantly healthy. This site will be a source of content – both audio, video, and written – by anyone I can find who has something to share that might help you on your own path to health. It will also be the central place where you can interact with me and get support and resources for taking control of your illness, your life, and learning to operate from a place of possibility…all the time.
Warmly,
Karen Gordon
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Karen Gordon is the founder of www.theselfhealingcoach.com. She is also the founder and President of Karenscape Photography, an award-winning wedding photojournalism studio based in New York. She has been shooting weddings exclusively for ten years, until recently when her attention was captivated by birth, which led her to create The Bump Studio, a newborn, birth, and maternity photography studio also based in New York. Karen is also co-founder of Viral Evolution Media, Inc. , the parent company for the Human Operating System and Phoenix, which is an online program created by Devon White, based on the Mythoself model, providing the most cutting-edge behavioral software ever designed for the public sphere.
Hi karen, I found your story very interesting. I am 56 and have suspected that I had MS since I was 23. Initially, no testing was done, as there wasn’t much in the 70′s except for a spinal. I have not had a spinal done, so my doctors say that they cannot make a definitive diagnosis. I have had several MRIs though, and the brain MRI’s shows “a couple of white spots” that my neuro said could be due to my age (I was about 47 when I had those done). For all these years, I have tried to eat right, exercise and keep stress away as much as possible (although I don’t think I’ve been very successful with that.) 2 years ago, my 30 yo son experienced optic neurotis and was diagnosed with MS (through MRI) a year ago. Much to my dismay, he started taking Rebif and has done OK so far. However, I wish that I could convince him otherwise. It looks like you are in NY. My son lives in Chicago. Do you have knowledge of any practitioners in Chicago that he might see to help with his MS (even though he doesn’t think he needs help at this time — he’s very scientific minded). Thanks for your thoughts. Pam
I think it makes a lot of sense to be positive and to take control of MS. However, I have to say that my experience has been as follows: I had my first symptoms when I was 22 years old. I then spent the next 16 years feeling well, marrying, having a family and generally leading a very happy life. I pretty much ignored the fact that I had MS. Out of the blue one day, I had a massive attack which left me unable to walk for a few days until steroid treatment appeared to give me a ‘magic’ cure. Again I just went on with my life but little by little I gradually got worse and worse going from being able to play tennis, slowing down to play golf, only managing short walks with the dog and now I am still walking but only for very short distances. Any more than 20 yards and I need a scooter or wheelchair. I’m now on a very strict diet and go to the gym to exercise as much as possible within my limitations so am still trying to keep as well as I can. The point of the story is that this horrible illness is getting me despite the fact that I spent most of my adult life ignoring it and being positive. Now I’m 54 and it’s increasingly difficult to see myself leading anything but this limiting life where I can’t scoop my gorgeous grandson up in my arms and walk round the room with him or walk to the train station to go and visit a friend. I have slipped into secondary progressive MS despite all my best efforts. Without being too negative, just because someone with MS feels fit and well, doesn’t mean to say the illness isn’t going to jump up and bite them in the backside in the future.
All the best, Karen
Hello Karen,
My sister was diagnosed with MS almost 2 years ago. She is 24 now.
Initially, we were told it is incurable and so forth, but we implemented Parasite, kidney, liver, bowel and heavy metal cleanses according to Dr. Hulda Clark and Ann Boroch.She has been symptom free for nearly a year now.But, from what you said I understand that not having symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that MS might be gone.Or that her health in general is better?How tricky!Let me ask you-did you have any simptoms during that 16 year period during which you started your family?And are you familiar with Hulda Clark’s research?
Sincerely,
Lina
hi lina. just to clarify, the comment above yours by a woman named karen is not the same karen as me. if your sister has the RRMS then yes, it can be remission and come back. however, that should not discourage you at all. as far as i’m concerned working with ann is perhaps the best thing your sister can do. you want to stack as many things in your sister’s favor as possible, so detoxing and strengthening her system are excellent ways to get her body strong and clean and balanced, which makes the likelihood of exacerbations much less. i don’t know any more than you do about the woman’s story above but i know she said she ignored her MS for many years which leads me to believe that she wasn’t on a strict diet as per ann’s recommendation and mine, and that she wasn’t taking supplements and detoxifying. if your sister feels good and is not symptomatic, or only mildly so, that’s great news. MS is a mysterious disease and there are no guarantees, but continuing to learn about how your sister can stay strong and healthy is an excellent strategy. i’m not familiar with hulda clark’s research but i’ve been working with ann for several years. i wish you and your sister excellent health!
warmly,
karen
Gracias.
Hi, Karen. I just typed a great email to you and my computer erased it! Argh!!! Anyway, I was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago when I was 18. I’ve gone the alternative route for a long time with some wonderful results and some not so wonderful. (At this point, I’m walking very poorly with a cane or walker.) I bought Ann Boroch’s book Healing MS a couple of years ago, and it’s just starting to sink in. I’ve had a skin fungus off and on for approx. 25 years, so I KNOW I’ve got a fungal overgrowth going on! I’ve seen some great results on my journey when I’ve paid close attention to my diet for an extended period. I wonder, “How many times will that have to happen before I realize that I need to make this type of diet a lifestyle change?!” So, I’ve been following (ALMOST religiously) Ann’s recommendations for 3 months. In late January, I saw a 24 hour period of a semi-remission that was FABULOUS, but I’ve gone downhill ever since
It’s hard to keep it up without any encouragement (in the form of even just tiny physical improvements) — I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. So I emailed Ann the other day to ask if she knew of some online support that I could utilize. She sent me your web address. I am 100% certain that if I can keep up the “good work” for long enough, I will see some marked differences. I’ve seen it happen in me before! It’s just hard to get to “long enough”… I’m glad that you have this lovely website to act as, if nothing else, a much needed sounding board! Thank you! Keep up the marvelous work. 
–sally
hi sally! thank you so much for your note. i have been on ann’s regimen strictly for almost three years now and i’ve had tremendous results. i can reassure you that after about six months straight, your body will begin to reset to a cleaner and healthier way of being, and from then on, when you go off track you will actually find yourself yearning to return to your diet. eating this way has become my default diet – what my body expects – and when i begin to stray in times of stress or cultural indulgence, like the holidays, my body lets me know exactly how it feels about that (it’s not good!).
i also want you to know that ann’s diet is not the only change i made. it helped tremendously and is an essential part of healing, but i also had thorough food allergy testing done which showed i was severely allergic to butter and eggs (of which i was eating lots). so i stopped that and improved. i also found that i needed to increase my thyroid medication. i also began taking LDN. all these things combined have created massive improvement for me, so make sure you continue to research and experiment. the diet is crucial but not always the only answer.
please let me know how it goes!
warmly,
karen
Hi, Karen. I posted a note to the bit with the cookie monster face on it! Then I remembered that you had replied to my post here. I, too, am doing other things besides the diet. I have a naturopathic doc, among others, that I’ve been seeing since I was diagnosed (20 years ago) He’s fantastic, but for the last 10 years, we’ve been hitting brick walls. I’ve tried lots of other treatments as well, and it seems that when I’m very meticulous about my diet, that’s the only time I see positive results. So here I am, trying it again, hell-bent on making it a lifestyle change for good this time. Quite a challenge to get through the nasty symptom tunnel to see the light at the end. Still dark here, but I’m praying for daylight!
Thanks again for this wonderful website! BTW, the photo of you above is gorgeous!
sally
Hello Karen
Your story is quite something. I really relate to u/any of us making that choice about being a victim or taking control. I guess I haven’t yet come strongly enough on the latter! But my condition is different to yours: mine is to do with depression & anxiety. So I am wondering how to swing what’s helped u to my situation. I know I don’t exercise enough and eating has dropped off. I’m on antidepressants as I wasn’t successful at managing without (I tried for a long time; and suicidal thoughts made me realise I had to do something). I hope u can make some helpful suggestions. All the best in your work. Shanti in Australia
Karen – a patient of mine was recently diagnosed with MS. If you don’t mind, I may forward your blog to her, as she may find some peace in reading about another strong, successful woman sharing in her journey
Stace
I’d be honored. thank you stacey!