The Naturalistic Nurse
The Naturalistic Nurse
Helping people with eczema live their most natural lives
 

Welcome to The Naturalistic Nurse

A blog dedicated to helping people with eczema live their most natural lives

 
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Meet Cassie Jaravata - The Nat Nurse!

Get to know my eczema story, how I found holistic medicine, and how The Naturalistic Nurse came to be.

 
 

@thenatnurse is now on Instagram

Follow me to learn how to embrace an eczema-friendly lifestyle and more!

 
Why I love my hospital: . A few nights ago, I was feeling extremely sad and discouraged from my skin. I spent the night venting to my boyfriend about how overwhelmed and lost I was feeling as tears welled up in my eyes, which by now, was no new thing. It was the last thing I wanted to be doing after a completely exhausting day at work (I was so busy that I barely had time to sit down or drink some water in 12 hours!) with another long day ahead of me the next morning. . The next day at work, I happened to be taking a 4-hour “kindness” class, required of all hospital employees. (“Kindness” class??? What the heck is a kindness class?! And what could we possibly be doing for 4 hours?! 🙄) I knew a good portion of the class would be about creating a culture of kindness, whether that be among your patients, other employees, or even across different disciplines and specialties in the hospital. But what I didn’t expect was the significant portion of the class spent on the importance of self-care and self-compassion - being kind to yourself. . This portion consisted of making pledges of kindness to ourselves, yoga, stretching, massage, aromatherapy, the best guided meditation I’ve ever done, and various exercises to help us evaluate if we are really incorporating things that bring us happiness into our daily lives, as well as how to make time for those things and ensure our cup stays full - because after all, how can you care for others if you’re not caring for yourself? . After the week I had with my skin and work and the insignificant, everyday stresses we all have, this few hours was EXACTLY what I needed to reset my mind and put me on the right track toward healing again... And who knew it would be happening at my very own hospital?! . I feel so fortunate to not only be working at a place that offers amazing opportunity for learning and professional growth, but that also deeply values the holistic aspect of caregiving and invests its time and money into instilling this value to those of us working on the frontline 😌🌱 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #nursesofinstagram #mentalhealth #holistichealth
I have been seriously struggling with my skin over the past couple weeks, especially on my hands and wrists. On top of my eczema, I’ve really been feeling the huge toll that nursing takes on your hands (even on ppl with normal, healthy skin! 😕). The amount of times I have to hand wash, hand gel, and pull on/off gloves even within 1 hour is pretty insane... Then multiply that by a 12-hour shift... Then multiply THAT by sometimes 3 days in a row 🤭😦 . Finding ways to promote healing despite of what my workday is like has been one heck of a challenge, and I’ve had a few breakdowns this week alone, feeling overwhelmed with my skin and this healing process. Thankfully, I’ve re-realized (lol) that the best solution right now is to PRIORITIZE deep self-care and self-compassion. . These next 2 days off will be ALL about healing, hitting the ‘reset’ button on my mind and body, and re-vamping my Healing Plan to be more conducive to my work lifestyle. I’m also choosing to find ways to create more victories during my workday, like ensuring 1 pint of plain celery juice is the first thing in my stomach every morning, and practicing 1-minute guided meditation during my breaks👩🏻‍⚕️🌱 . Keep you posted, and happy healing 🙂❤️ . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #holisticnurse #powerhousenurses #nursingfriendly #nursesofinstagram #medicalmedium #medicalmediumprotocol #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness
One of the things I’m most excited for once my skin is finally happy, under control, and eczema-free is being able to enjoy the outdoors like I used to 🌲⛺️☀️ I DREAM about the day I can hike, camp, and explore again, except this time UNENCUMBERED by eczema 🙏 Without having to worry if my skin will be able to handle the weather or sweat; Without having to guesstimate with clothing, unsure of what my skin will need at the time; Without worrying if circumstances will allow me to do my skincare as needed; And without feeling totally overwhelmed no matter how prepared I am, just wanting to go back home bc it turns out that my skin can’t handle it like I’d hoped (all of which have happened before). . Not only am I working hard for the appearance and feeling of soft, smooth, eczema-free skin, but I’m really working for the quality of life that comes along with it. It may feel like it’s just a dream now, but I WILL make that dream a reality 👊 I CANNOT WAIT!! 🙋🏻‍♀️ . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticliving #holisticlife #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #nature #natureheals #naturehealing #naturelovers #naturephotography
Not your typical #MotivationMonday 🧐🤷🏻‍♀️🙂 . Progress is not linear” is the literal tag line of EVERYONE’S healing journey with eczema... Amirite?! 🙌 Over the past 10 months, I’ve become a completely different person than who I was at the start of this healing journey. Not only has my skin health progressed, but my mental and emotional well-being are now backed by a HUGE toolbox of coping mechanisms that I’ve developed and honed throughout this crazy process. But even so, we all still have our days. . As experienced as I’ve become coping with the stress, anxiety, self-consciousness, frustration, and physical turmoil that this journey entails, there are still (many) times that I feel COMPLETELY overwhelmed. I still feel exhausted, I still have breakdowns, and I still cry (it happened just the other day, in fact). These times can be the absolute hardest, but what gets me through (more like what drags me out) is 1) remembering to practice self-compassion and 2) reminding myself that progress is never linear. So if you’re having a tough week, day, or even few hours, try to remind yourself the same - Progress is not linear, and you’re doing a great job. . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticliving #motivation #motivationalquotes #progress #progressnotperfection #progressing #motivated #hardwork
🚴🏻‍♀️🍎🏖 Heard @medicalmedium was having an APPLE challenge, and I knew I had to share the amazing benefits of apples with my friends (riding along the beach, no less)! ☀️🍎 Apples are an amazing fruit to help HEAL your SKIN - Why? They are a great source of vitamin C, which helps to build collagen. Collagen is needed to maintain integrity, firmness, and elasticity in your skin (which is something a lot of ppl with ECZEMA can struggle with) ✅ Vitamin C also reduces free-radical damage to your skin cells, which can be caused by pollution in the very air that we breathe! (We often don’t think about the toll this silently takes on our bodies, especially our skin! 🤔) ✅ The copper content of apples also helps encourage the production of melanin, which helps protect our skin from harmful UV rays, ultimately reducing your risk for skin cancer ✅ . The lifestyle and diet changes I’ve made through my healing journey have allowed me to rediscover the true power of the humble apple, and I am so grateful! Now, I urge you to bring more apples into your life as well... Just think - When was the last time YOU ate an apple? 👩🏻‍⚕️🍎 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly r#happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #holisticlife #holisticlifestyle #applechallenge #naturalskincare #healthyhabit #healthysnacks #medicalmedium
🌗🌘🌑 Last Sunday, I welcomed the new moon with my first sound healing by @bksanghasound! 😌🥣 I wasn’t familiar with sound healing at ALL before this, so I went in with no expectations, and in the end was pleasantly surprised by a renewed mind and full heart... Just what I needed, as I’ve been having a really tough couple of weeks with my skin. . Alongside being one of the most meditative experiences ever, I also accomplished another PHYSICAL WIN that I hadn’t been able to feel in a long time... STRETCHING! 🤗😱 Over the last year, exercise (and physical activity in general) fell to the wayside as I struggled to barely keep my head above water with my eczema. Even mild stretches caused me so much pain that I actually became fearful of trying, even after my skin started to improve. Even now, depending how my skin is doing that day, it sometimes hurts to raise my arms straight up above my head (but I’m getting there). . Last Sunday, being in such a welcoming and healing space, I felt the courage to stretch deeper than I have all year, really listening to my body, breathing through the fear despite the feeling of my tight, taught skin. Tbh, it was scary AF at first. But the more love and trust I breathed into my body, the more I felt true RELEASE (for the first time in a long time, physically AND mentally)🌱 . I’m so grateful to have been able to celebrate the new moon - a time for renewal, inspiration, and clarity - in such a healing way 🙂 This healing journey waits for no man, and with a little help from Brandon and Lena of @bksanghasound, I’m ready to keep going! 🌒💪 . “Show up, Let go... Make Space, Illuminate!” - da mirror . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticmedicine #soundhealing #soundhealer #soundhealingmeditation #meditation #meditationspace #meditatedaily #meditationart #meditationteacher #healingenergy #yoga #yogainspiration
🥂🍺🍷🎉 At the start of 2018, I went completely SOBER for a stretch of 7 months in order to help heal my skin. Just before my body became overwhelmed with eczema at the end of last year, I had finally learned just how drastically alcohol affected my skin (and how it could be affecting yours too! Ask me how in the comments if you’re interested). . Like for many ppl, alcohol has been an ever-present element of my adult social life - Bars, restaurants, group dinners, intimate gatherings, nights spent in, workplace bonding... 👫🍻👬 It was surprising how available a bottle of beer or a glass of wine ALWAYS was, no matter what the social occasion, and the huge part alcohol plays in our culture and societal relationships. . In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what sobriety would be like 🤷🏻‍♀️🤨 I knew I could do it, since I’ve never relied on alcohol to be my awesome, super-fun self in social settings, but I knew it would still be an adjustment. There were many times I had to think twice before answering the casual question, “Do you want a drink?” 🤔 but eventually it became my norm 🙂 . After FEELING the difference in my body (inside and out) after 7 months sober, I can honestly say that I LOVE not drinking alcohol! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Since Month 7, I’ve had alcohol on several occasions, but now I’m much more inclined to stay sober for the good of my health and skin 🤗 . If it weren’t for this whole ordeal with my eczema, I likely never would’ve tried this social experiment and made this huge lifestyle change. It’s yet another blessing in disguise on this wild ride of healing, and I’m super thankful! 👍 . Here’s me last Sat night with my new fave clubbing drink - water 😍💧👯‍♀️👯‍♀️ #EczemaFriendlyLifestyle . Disclaimer: The 1 downside I have encountered of sobriety is my heightened awareness of how tired my feet actually are after a long night of dropping it low, lol... But rly tho 💃🏻 . . . #eczemafriendly r#happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #holistichealing #holistichealth #healthyhabit
Love starting the day off with some fruit (and sleepy doggo). And already mentally prepped myself to have a good skin day 🤞 Happy weekend y’all! 👊 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #naturalhealthcare #holistichealthcare #holisticlife #holisticlifestyle #skincare #naturalskincare
During the extra hard months of healing, there were so many times I CRAVED going outside and being out in the world like a normal person, but my skin drastically limited the activities I could actually do (let alone how much time I could even spend outside of my house). . Going to museums became my activity of choice during the transitional months as I tried to get back to a normal life again. They were the perfect activity for me because: 1) Cool a/c in the buildings was soothing even on hot summer days out, 2) I could walk and move as slowly as I wanted, minimizing any physical pain from excess movement, without worrying if I’m slowing down the group, and perhaps most importantly 3) I didn’t have to talk to anyone!!! (Bc sometimes, when you’re going through your healing crisis, you just can’t, and that’s ok 😌) . Here’s me exploring LACMA in Los Angeles, MOCA in Chicago, and the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona 🙋🏻‍♀️🌎🎭🌌 #EczemaFriendlyLifestyle . What things do you like to do when your skin has you feeling down? . . . #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticlife #holisticlifestyle #travel #healthiswealth #healthydiet #museum
 
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