If you read the previous post, you understand how chiropractic care has helped me heal from a chronic injury from childhood. That personal experience with chiropractic developed into passion and a mission to help others in the same way. I made the decision to become a chiropractor…. but it wasn’t an easy one. It was long and full of self doubt.
The doubt of my ability to hack it at such a long post secondary education program to get my Chiropractic degree. But once the decision was made; it was done. After changing my major multiple times and not being able to commit… I was finally excited at what I was called to do for the rest of my life. Now it was time to tell the world!
I remember making the announcement to my advisor at the University of Northern Iowa. I had spent a lot of time with him securing our last semester internship and I really looked up to him. I remember the excitement I had to share this news. After all, I was going to change lives like mine was changed by Chiropractic… So, I made the announcement. “Dr. Cryer, (as proud as I could say) I have made the decision to go to Palmer College of Chiropractic”… Silence…
“Well Niki, I hope you are not going to be brainwashed that chiropractic can cure everything”.
Ugh. Heartbreak.
Is this really what people thought of Chiropractic? Something that changed my life in such a positive way?
I vowed to prove him wrong. To be able to share testimonials when I became a chiropractor that changed lives. To prove that people who had some kind of stigma about chiropractic could see it from a place of loving service. Every day WE specialize in creating shifts in the brain and nerve system which can contribute to healing many conditions; such as anxiety, depression and an array of chronic conditions. Every day we see the body heal, not by us ‘curing’ anything, but removing interference to the body’s own ability to heal. It was the first time I had truly witnessed what the “non believers” truly felt about chiropractic and I was determined to change that in our community.
I am so proud to say that my first case as a practicing doctor of Chiropractic was a girl we will call Kim. Kim had so many mental health challenges that she was afraid to be in the exam room with me. Her father sat in the corner with his arms crossed and her mom next to her (all who are still patients in the office to this day). I knew that by making changes to her nerve system we could change her life. She aspired to go to Target by herself. To go to the gym without circling the parking lot and driving home. To not wanting to crawl out of her own skin. To function as a human without being defined by her debilitating anxiety and bipolar disorder. Guess who now does ALL of those things!!!
I never sent the testimonial to Dr. Cryer, my former advisor, even though I debated many times. I knew we had a bigger mission – to let others know they don’t have to live a life of chronic and debilitating pain. To Restore HOPE to those to had lost it. Finally, to making the skeptical our biggest fans. Trust me, you can ask Kim’s dad, who took 5 years to become a patient even after he saw her changes. NOW, he only wishes he came in sooner! And as stubborn as he is; he will always admit that to us!
Does this sound like YOU? Are you super skeptical about how we could help conditions like depression, fibromyalgia, vertigo, Parkinson’s, MS and chronic fatigue? Or maybe it’s not skeptical, it just doesn’t seem to make sense? We would love to talk to you and explain the understanding behind what we do; from an absolute place of love and respect. Click here to schedule a free consult today.
