My Journey Inward- 10 Tips on Healing From the Inside Out.

Alexia Palmeri
Jun 12, 2020
7 min read

Not taking responsibility for ourselves and our lives is a worldwide epidemic. We have allowed our shortcomings to become more powerful than our resilience and ability to choose better for ourselves. When I look around it's fairly easy to see that we are quick to blame, fall victim to our circumstances, or just plain and simply not care enough to make necessary changes for our own happiness. Doing these things takes something, and that "something" is what I was lacking at many points in my life.

I have recently gone into remission after battling a bout of severe eczema for two years which took over much of my body. This was during a time in my life where my emotional, mental, and physical health were at a low point. My skin was on fire and I was constantly consumed by an undesirable need to itch. I would itch without even thinking, and it would even wake me up from sleeping during many nights. At the time I was so confused as to why this was all happening to me. Why wasn't anything I was doing working? Why was my skin getting worse and worse?

I was using every cream you could think of! I had seen doctors, dermatologists, nutritionists, and naturopaths thinking that there HAD to be something that would finally cure me. There would be times when I saw slight improvements in my skin, but nothing I was doing externally seemed to be really working for me. I wasn't seeing what was really lacking in my life all along. I had way more control over my well-being than I thought was even possible...

During this time when my eczema was flaring, I wasn't happy, and there was more to it than just how my skin looked and felt. I truly wasn't listening to my body and what it really needed. I didn't understand the magic of looking inward, but soon enough things were about to change for me. I decided that it was absolutely crucial for me to start a healing journey from the inside out, rather than the outside in. I slowly but surely decided that I needed to make choices that would begin to put my health and happiness first. Some of these choices would be easy, while others not so much. The biggest battle that I would have to overcome in order to truly heal was to get out of my own way.

Let me tell you something incredible, once I decided to commit and make choices aligned with my health, happiness, and peace, everything started to change for me. Here are 10 things that have worked for me to begin healing from the inside out, hopefully they resonate with you!

1. Yoga & moving my body:

I have to tell you that for a while, I was a yoga skeptic. I used to think "how could a series of stretches really be that beneficial for me?" It wasn't until I got on the mat, and started giving it a try with a couple of "Yoga with Adriene" videos on YouTube, that I really understood the power of Yoga. Soon enough I became a believer because yoga helped me through some of the lowest points in my life. Moving my body and taking a moment to breathe, just be with myself, and not worry or think about anything else is absolutely therapeutic for me. Yoga is a state of calm, love, acceptance, and truly an act of self-love. I started to notice that the more I did yoga, the stronger I became. The differences I saw were not only physically but also emotionally. I highly recommend moving your body and trying yoga even if it's for 10 minutes a day to help yourself heal.

2. Speaking to a psychotherapist:

I was at my lowest point when I realized that my unhappiness was beginning to impact the people I loved. I wasn't showing up for people in my life because I wasn't even really showing up for myself. I never thought I'd be someone who needed therapy, but it wasn't until I started seeing a therapist that I realized EVERYONE can benefit from therapy. Speaking to someone about what I was dealing with in my personal life and diving into my past has been one of the best things I have ever done. Not only has it helped me to mend relationships in my life, but I have gained a new and more powerful relationship with myself. I now have actionable tools I use in my everyday life to help me face my insecurities and triggers.

3. Moving out:

The environment you live in plays a huge role in your overall health. When I was dealing with my worst bouts of eczema I was living in an environment that wasn't conducive to my healing. Without going into too much detail, I was surrounded by negativity that was adding chaos and stress rather than peace. When quarantine started in March I had the opportunity to move in with my boyfriend, and once I did that I immediately recognized a difference in how I felt. I highly recommend taking a good look at the people you're surrounding yourself with and ask yourself, "are these people bringing me joy or making me feel joy-less?"

4. Being more vulnerable:

Vulnerability is the most underrated yet most transformational ways you can improve the quality of your life. Author Brene Brown says, "Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” I had to start getting real with myself and the people around me about how I was feeling. It took a lot of courage and conversations weren't always perfect but being vulnerable helped to strengthen relationships in my life with my family, boyfriend, and friends. Suppression is suffering and once you start expressing yourself you will find freedom.

5. Cutting out dairy and meat:

The past two years have truly taught me how to be mindful about what I put into my body. I remember doing research about foods that can cause eczema flare-ups when mine started to get really bad. I started to see lots of information on the benefits of a plant-based diet. I also discovered that cutting out dairy may assist lowering inflammation in the body. I wanted to confirm if dairy was a culprit for me so I ended up taking a food sensitivity test. Once I got the results I saw that dairy came back as a primary sensitivity for me! From that point on I haven't consumed any dairy at all, I also decided to cut out meat (for ethical and environmental reasons) and I have felt so much better since doing so! If you have skin inflammation I highly recommend eliminating dairy to see if it's a trigger for you.

6. Being in nature:

Does anyone else feel automatically more relaxed and at peace being surrounded by nature? For me, I have always felt a strong connection to the outdoors. Nature gives me perspective, it gives me the opportunity to be grateful for all of the beauty that surrounds us. One of the most healing things you can do is to be out in nature more often. Whether it be a walk in a park, being by a lake, or just laying on the grass in your backyard, I can assure you'll feel more connected to yourself and the world around you.

7. Setting healthy boundaries:

Boundaries are something very new for me. I never knew how much I needed boundaries in my life until I started setting them. My therapist was the one who taught me the true importance of this tool in our lives. Boundaries teach other people how to treat you. I used to feel guilty for putting myself and my needs first, I would always feel so bad! I now realize that putting myself first is absolutely necessary and an act of self-love. You can still be there for others AND set healthy boundaries.

8. Accepting myself:

Accepting myself when I was physically at my lowest was one of the most challenging things for me to do. I felt ashamed of how I looked when I had my severe eczema covering my body. I didn't feel beautiful, and so many of my thoughts were consumed by how bad the whole thing made me feel. Beginning to practice self-acceptance and telling myself that "I will get better," and "I am beautiful," made a remarkable difference in the way I viewed everything. I truly started believing it. True healing begins with acceptance.

9. Being creative:

Creativity is expressed in so many different ways. For some it's through art, others through music, for me.. I love cooking! Being creative inspires me and gives me purpose. Whenever I stopped being creative I always felt like there was something missing in my life. I think it's so important for us all to make time for creativity in our lives, simply because it brings joy. I am obsessed with experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes and foods, I love taking the time to make a great meal, it's something I genuinely enjoy! Creativity in itself is healing!

10. Sharing with others:

Sharing my story is one of the most freeing things I have ever done. For a long time I hid my skin and how I was feeling from others. Many people didn't even know that I was suffering based on the way I hid it so well. I knew that I wasn't serving myself by keeping quiet and making myself small. I thrive when I am honest and get to express myself. I want to make a difference by keeping it real and being authentic. Now I choose to share because I know it makes a difference not only for me, but for the world.

I'm going to leave you with this quote...

“Often what feels like the end of the world is really a challenging pathway to a far better place.” – Karen Salmansohn