Finding Her Way Back: Kari’s Journey Through Pain, Healing, and Hope
What Makes You a Beautiful Disaster?
What makes me a Beautiful Disaster is that no matter how many times I’ve hit rock bottom, I still keep trying again. Through all the pain, messiness, and struggles, I continue showing up for myself and for others.
I’m learning that healing isn’t always pretty, but there’s beauty in continuing to fight for yourself anyway.
Why Do You Identify with the Beautiful Disaster Brand?
Fibromyalgia is an invisible disease, so nobody truly sees the pain I struggle through every day.
I don’t want to stay stuck in that pain anymore—I want to move forward from it. Beautiful Disaster reminds women that even through the chaos, hardship, and disasters life throws at us, beauty and strength can still grow from it.
That message deeply resonates with me.
Tell Us Your Beautiful Disaster Story
For over 20 years, I have struggled with fibromyalgia and multiple chronic health issues.
Since being pregnant with our second daughter, who is now 22, I’ve had at least 10 kidney stones, none of which passed without surgery. After our youngest daughter was born, now 18, my health struggles continued to grow. Fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, obesity, ovarian cysts, bladder issues—the list seemed endless.
For more than 15 years, I was taking three handfuls of prescription medications every single day.
I went through Pain Rehab to break away from pain medication dependence and spent years in counseling trying to navigate life through constant physical and emotional pain.
Honestly, I don’t know how my family handled everything I was going through.
Last spring, I became highly addicted to something called 7OH, which is sold over the counter and stronger than morphine. A year later, I’m still working to fully break free from it, but I’ve gone from taking over 200mg a day to around 40mg now.
It hasn’t been easy.
But I’m fighting through it day by day.
Recently, I started seeing a massage therapist, Reiki practitioner, and life coach who healed herself from fibromyalgia naturally. Watching her reclaim her life inspired me to believe I could reclaim mine too.
For the first time in over 20 years, I finally feel hopeful.
I recently took myself off all prescription medications and began focusing on healing my body and mind through spiritual work, mindfulness, healthier habits, movement, and self-care.
For the first time in years, I feel like I’m finally finding my way back to ME.
My husband and I have lived in his family’s home for 13 years, and only recently have I finally started making it feel like our home instead of someone else’s. I’ve been cleaning, exercising, eating healthier, reconnecting spiritually, and slowly rebuilding my life from the inside out.
One day, I hope to study Reiki and healing work myself so I can help other women rediscover their own strength and healing too.
What Happened for You to Turn It Around?
Meeting my Reiki therapist and life coach completely shifted my perspective.
Watching someone who had healed herself from fibromyalgia gave me hope that I didn’t have to stay trapped in pain forever.
For the first time in decades, I believed healing might actually be possible for me too.
Name 3 Things You’ve Done to Move Closer to Happiness
- Reconnected spiritually
- Prioritized self-care
- Practiced mindfulness and healthier daily habits
What Is Your Favorite Beautiful Disaster Collection, Past or Present, and Why?
“Hating Me Won’t Make You Pretty” has always resonated deeply with me.
Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, I was teased and treated cruelly by girls I used to be close to. It left lasting scars, and I still struggle sometimes with feeling like I’ve done something wrong if someone doesn’t like me.
My husband constantly reminds me that not everyone’s opinions define my worth, and I’m learning to let go of that need for approval.