“After spending my first year of retirement caring for aging parents and recovering from surgeries, I expected to finally feel free. But in January 2024, I realized that instead of enjoying myself, I felt like I was falling apart.
“My body seemed like it was shutting down—I was exhausted, burnt out, and overwhelmed. Even the smallest things felt urgent and stressful.
“Despite being on three max-dose medications, my blood pressure was dangerously high. Sleep was elusive, my mind wouldn’t calm down, and my relationships—especially the one with myself—were suffering.
“Seeking a real solution, my wife and I joined PALM Health, drawn to their personalized care. It wasn’t until then that I fully grasped how deeply these symptoms ran and how they influenced one another to create this state of poor health.
“I learned that chronic stress and inflammation weren’t only affecting my blood pressure, but also my GI health. Working with both a doctor and dietitian at PALM Health was a game-changer in helping me address these issues together.
“My PALM doctor introduced me to Cardiac Coherence breathing. After just four rounds of practicing the technique, I noticed a significant drop in my heart rate and blood pressure.
“That’s when it hit me: if I wasn’t even breathing properly to begin with, maybe I needed to start from the ground up—rebuilding both my physical and mental health.
“I started exploring more of what PALM Health had to offer and tried EMDR Therapy, which was instrumental in helping me process my emotions and reframe my outlook in a more positive way.
“Through EMDR, I learned how my past had shaped my thoughts and behaviors, pushing me to work relentlessly and achieve success at any cost—a cost that, I now realized, had been my own well-being.
“That was the turning point. I understood that in order to heal my body, I had to heal my mind, too.
“Since then, I’ve shifted my focus inward, prioritizing relaxation, stress management, and self-care. Now, I regularly use PALM Health’s Trilogy (cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and salt room) and participate in meditation classes. And now, I’m seeing the results.
“I’m sleeping better than ever and have been able to get off both of my sleep medications. My GI issues are settling down, and my blood pressure is stabilizing.
“With inflammation decreasing throughout my body, I’m looking forward to maintaining a healthy weight, getting back into the gym and classes, and continuing to build my physical resilience.
“But most importantly, I’m embracing the deeper work—the work of rediscovering myself and who I have the potential to be. Thanks to the mind-body approach, services like Cardiac Coherence, fitness and meditation classes, Vitality sessions, EMDR, and well-being coaching are helping me grow continuously and build resilience every day.
“I’ve realized that my well-being isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about living better, for as long as possible.”
– Steve S.
