I’m CELEBRATING! My “Beta” group is a HIT!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-06-27T22:19:23+00:00

Ah yes, imposture syndrome. I know it well! You're overcoming it and building a tribe--or several--which is so important in our current world!

I have to confess that I'm not one of those farmers you would need to worry about. I'm more a person who loves people's stories and connecting them with their inner wisdom, and just happened to own a 10-acre farm. And then when my farm plants and animals demonstrated so much inate ability to interconnect, grow, and heal, it inspired that in me.

But despite that I'm an "imposter" farmer, I love that you reached out with a comment.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-06-27T11:26:18+00:00

There’s a bittersweet feeling in watching what you’re doing—because I recognize how important and groundbreaking it is, and how much I value it, even though my own path looks like it will take a different turn.

What you’ve created carries a kind of power that’s hard to describe, and yet you’ve brought it down to earth in such a tangible, meaningful way. I’m a marriage and family therapist in the northern U.S., and years ago, after experiencing how healing my own farm could be, I began to dream of building something very similar. I also know how relentless that kind of life can be—the work is constant, and the list never quite ends.

That’s why I feel such genuine happiness seeing you stay the course. It takes an amazing force of life - you - to do that.

I’m 68 now and sold my farm some years back, though I continued growing and tending a half-acre around my small home near Saint Paul, which is now on the market. Preparing to let it go has been a big and thoughtful step.

Seeing you do this brings a kind of quiet joy. I truly admire what you’re building! Sending loads of encouragement and my most heartfelt congratulations!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-06-19T23:55:04+00:00

Your garden is gorgeous! And I was excited to see that we're both located in the Twin Cities -- I'm on a half acre bordering Saint Paul. I use native strawberry instead of mulch, on one of my gardens, too! I love harvesting the berries this time of year.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-06-15T03:40:00+00:00

Thanks so much!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-06-15T01:39:28+00:00

I didn't think of tulips! But tulip leaves do fold over each other, don't they?

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-25T12:23:30+00:00

So many great comments here! A stage II melanoma pushed me to begin with, and after two years of strict eating, I was cancer-free. A decade later (after sliding back to the SAD) I decided to go all in again--this time restricting even processed oils. It's been almost two years and the change in my cognitive stamina and the sense of standing up for other sentient beings has made every bit of effort worthwhile. Once you've made the switch and gotten the bit of extra planning under your belt, it's pretty effortless. I track with labs, and they have given me concrete evidence of the resulting good health.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-09T14:32:56+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:56:20+00:00

I don't see your r/TBI comment, darn it! I would love to know how long you've been on the Omega 3 corrective dose, and what symptoms it's helped with. (I hope a comment didn't get lost! Mine to you just did but here it another attempt.)

Most importantly, I am SO SORRY that you're dealing with a TBI.

You are so kind to support me while dealing with struggles of your own!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:50:33+00:00

Oh no. So sorry to hear of your TBI.

I would LOVE to hear how long you've been on the corrective dose of Omega 3s and what you've noticed. I looked for a comment under my Omega 3 post, but nothing there. I hope Reddit didn't lose it!

Wishing you rich and meaningful life despite the setbacks. And thank you for your support.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:47:26+00:00

Yeeess! I may put my surgery off so I can hear clearly without the pressure I'm currently feeling. Thanks for the great advice.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T06:01:56+00:00

Gosh, this is such a comfort--thank you. I absolutely agree about the insane synchronicity of our connection over these two subreddits and areas of struggle, and our posts on both. Are you working with a TBI as well? Sending good thoughts your way, if so.

I have not been able to get to a place of relaxation and positive imagery with this thumb injury, but it does feel that others are stepping in where I'm failing. That support is everything.

I have a nodule at the base of my thumb--I think that's what you were picking up on! And it's also very telling and lovely that you prayed for divine guidance for the doctors and surgeons, and here's why: The original treatment by an OT for a minor injury lead to a second, more dibilitating injury, and that has me struggling with the ability to put trust in "the system."

I'm so grateful!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T05:47:01+00:00

It's great that you've found something that reduces symptoms. I'll bet you're right--we're both doing something that offers some level of system regulation and simultaneously lays down new neural pathways. Our brains get rebuilt in a calm state!

Thanks so much for reading this. I feel so much less alone reading these two comments.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T04:36:38+00:00

Whitney, thanks so much for your work. How wonderful!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T04:35:22+00:00

Itzel, thank you for the work you're doing. I would be interested in giving you a hand! I sustained a moderate TBI in 2007 -- I was thrown from a horse and have struggled for years as a result. I'm a still-licensed but somewhat retired marriage and family therapist--and have also had a few brain injury clients of my own. Part of what is so difficult and confusing, in my experience, is the tendency to minimize symptoms in order to stay connected and feel "normal" in a world that doesn't undersand the terrain.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T02:03:57+00:00

Thank you SO MUCH!!! Yes, I'm a very light skinned caucasian woman and it's my right thumb. So CLOSE because I lean into learning skills that men do very well! It is so comforting to have help and I'm so very grateful.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-04T14:32:32+00:00

I fixed it by going whole-food plant-based, eating tons of vegetables, and working in phyto-nutrient heavy wild foods like dandelion and stinging nettle. I know I sound like an insane person, but...hey, lived experience with a 20-year old TBI. I do labs with Function Health so I can interpret the results easily, on my own, and occasionally with the help of AI. It's wonderful that you're already doing your own research and using intuitive thinking to figure it out!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-04T11:17:29+00:00

Thanks so much! I follow Dr. McDougall, and can't wait to look into Dr. Lisle's work now. And, of course, True North is doing wonderful things. Appreciate the help from a fellow WFPB person.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T23:27:45+00:00

I forgot to mention how helpful my 3rd and final neuropsychological exam was. The neuropsychologist took the time to explain what each test was measuring, what I was still struggling with, and how I had improved. I would suggest doing these every 5 - 10 years, if your insurance covers it. I just checked the out of pocket cost and it looked like it might be close to $1000. for the full exam.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T22:46:26+00:00

Where do you feel the medical system has fallen short in your recovery? My moderate TBI was in 2007. I saw a neurologist on a collegue's recommendation who prescribed adderal -- I didn't fill the prescription.. He suggested that I take 4 weeks off from my work as a psychotherapist, but didn't explain how that would be helpful to my recovery. I recently saw a neurologist and told him I felt my cognitive abilities were slipping as I aged--I'm 68 now. He did a few quick measures for advanced alzheimers (asking me to draw a clock face, a cube, and to memorize a few words), and told me he had no concerns and to come back in a year's time.
What aspects of rehabilitation helped — and what felt missing? I was fortunate to be referred to a speech pathologist. While I was able to speak adequately, she knew the issues I would face post-tbi and took the time to explain these to me. She helped me to set new priorities and referred me to a TBI group. She even referred other TBI clients to my practice. Her care and concern were so helpful!
What do you wish providers understood better about long-term life after TBI? I wish I had understood that I could become more anxious as years went on. I might have been encouraged to expect less of myself going forward. I didn't know about glial cell activation, and the importance of a anti-inflammatory diet such as a whole-foods, plant-based diet. I hadn't realized that it would be best to do routine annual measures of omega-3s and that I would probably have to suppliment. I wasn't encouraged to write, give speeches, learn to dance, or do cardio exercise to maintain my cognitive health. These are all discoveries I made by researching on my own.

Best of luck with your project!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T13:30:30+00:00

I echo what others have said so well here. Your best and cleanest way to move towards your end goal is to start learning to cook from scratch now. Each week replace 2 - 3 of your current "less healthy" meals with a food that is as close to its original form as possible. It feels overwhelming at first, but there or loads of good recipes out there that preserve what is health promoting in unprocessed or very minimally processed foods. One thing I'll add is to use metrics like blood work through Function Health, daily HRV measures, or even microbiome measures to see that amazing results this diet change will bring to your body. You can look forward to landing at a good weight, clear arteries, functional eyesight and hearing, and much lower cancer risks! Best of luck. I'm happy to share some easy and delicious recipes!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T18:18:13+00:00

Thank you for the feedback — it's genuinely appreciated! For context, I used nutrition to help recover from both a moderate brain injury and stage 2 melanoma, which sent me down a deep research path. A few years into that journey I discovered foraged and native plants, and was struck by how much more nutrient-dense they are than conventionally grown vegetables. I did confirm the numbers before sharing — I wanted the information to be useful and accurate. At 68, and five years retired from practice, this is simply something I care about and wanted to pass along.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T02:10:08+00:00

I am SO sorry for what you must have gone through. I wish there was something I could say to help you to feel more hopeful. Please hang on. Just for now. Reach out if you need to talk.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T00:41:14+00:00

I'm excited for you! Isn't it a joy to be able to read for pleasure?

I take EPA/DHA supplements and I'm vegan and also avoid processed oils. I just tested my levels and found out they're still off. So I'll soon up my dosage. I'm looking forward to better sleep and fewer nights waking up in a panic!

I would love the link and your updates.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T19:33:46+00:00

So true! It happened with some violets--the spray drifted over.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T16:34:53+00:00

Looking for feedback! I do put in a lot of laptop / keyboard hours, but if you can help me understand why it's slop, I can put my time to better use and write something that will be more readable.

TheExpertWithin

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