How Hiking Saved My Life
I know hiking saved my life because a few years ago, I hurt all over. It felt like I was carrying around a cinder block inside my body, under the right edge of my ribcage. I got sick a lot and overall felt horrible. I went to several doctors and each one told me it was anxiety, etc. Until one nurse practitioner said let’s do an ultrasound. I received the horrible diagnosis of cirrhosis secondary to non-alcoholic liver disease (NASH).
Basically, my liver was turning into a web of scar tissue. The kicker – I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. believe I developed this by relying on poor eating habits while under a lot of stress. Even though I hike for part of my living and was regularly hiking – it wasn’t enough time in the woods.
Pass on the Oreos
Like a lot of people, food is my go-to comfort. Anxiety spike – eat an Oreo or 12. Freaking out about a relationship – eat a slice or three of cake. I didn’t have control of my stresses and therefore couldn’t gain control of my response to them as the response was preprogrammed. A happens then B happens.
After the diagnosis, I started seeing a therapist (highly recommend) and was able to start putting systems in place to replace the pattern of stress followed by comfort in the form of sweets. I started exercising more. That included daily walks of three miles and at least two long hikes a week.
Better Habits
I also started replacing food for comfort with a craft for comfort.
If I felt an anxiety spike coming along, instead of reaching for a donut, I reached for the crochet hook and ball of yarn.
I carry these supplies in my purse. I started making amigurumi which is a crocheted or knitted stuffed toy.
From my diet, I eliminated processed foods, sugar, most sweeteners, soda pop, fried foods, smoked meats, and processed meats like pepperoni, salami, and lunch meats. I stopped using medications and any OTC medications (like acetaminophen including cold and migraine meds that included it) that were primarily processed by the liver.
Side Note: I used to get migraines that would knock me out of functioning. I would be in bed with the covers over my head as the world was too loud, too smelly, too bright, and too everything. Since changing my diet, I rarely get a headache but I can manage it with a tall glass of water, a pinch of salt, and a squeeze of lemon – basically rehydrating and balancing electrolytes.
As recommended by doctors, I started drinking lots and lots of dark coffee and started taking 400 units of Vitamin E twice a day.
I started taking turmeric, ginger, and black pepper mixture as it is supposed to be helpful for liver function. And, I ate a box truckload of cruciferous veggies – so much cabbage and broccoli. The compounds in cruciferous veggies provide the base compounds that your liver uses to function. I figured the more straight from the source unprocessed food base that had the components my liver needed the most would be loads better than any supplements.
What I didn’t do was a liver cleanse because that is a bunch of malarky. Your liver is the cleansing mechanism for your body. The best you can do for cleansing your liver is to stop doing things that damage your liver like drinking alcohol, eating fried foods, eating sugar, smoking, taking medications that are processed by the liver (check with your doctor), and REDUCING stress.
Back to Hiking
Which brings us back to hiking and how it saved my life. While I was doing all of these changes, I started talking to myself on even more hikes. I counseled myself and examined what I was doing that was hurting my body and had a good long talk with my inner child about changing our ways and treating ourselves better. It sounds a bit weird but I was like talk therapy except the therapist listening was the woods.
I might have cried a lot and might have angry screamed but each time I emerged from the woods, I felt better. I felt lighter in my heart and mind.
There is a lot more to this world than our wee-little systems can measure. I believe in basic Taoism and Nature. I also know that the trees feel us and speak to us in ways that most people miss because they think it is a bunch of hooey.
For example, there is a white oak that I saw off the trail — this tree was like a magnet. I traipsed across the forest floor, hugged the tree, and then sat at the base of the tree leaning against it. It was one of the most peaceful times I have had. All the noise in my head stopped and I was able to sit in the present and just be.
After, (maybe falling asleep) I got up and thanked the tree for being and for giving me a safe place to rest. Then I finished my hike. It is up to you whether you believe in the power of nature or not. However, what could it hurt to open your heart, mind, and soul to the possibility that the universe is a little more varied than what you can see and measure?
And, go for a hike.