How a Functional Medicine health coach improves disease management

Navigating the complexities of living with a chronic illness can be incredibly challenging.

It also often feels like an insurmountable task when you are facing the daily challenges of living with a chronic condition.

Working with a Functional Medicine health coach can significantly help you navigate your day to day journey, providing you with the support and guidance necessary to create sustainable change.

My journey into Functional Medicine health coaching

My journey into functional medicine health coaching began with my daughter’s severe eczema.

Watching her struggle through many years of sleepless nights, constant itching, and unending discomfort was heart-wrenching.

However, as a family, we faced these challenges together, finding ways to keep going even through the most difficult of challenges.

In fact, it was through this experience that I developed a deep empathy and understanding for families going through similar health struggles. And this led me to becoming a health coach in 2017.

This personal experience drives my commitment as a Functional Medicine certified health coach. I have talked about what Functional Medicine is and how it helps in chronic disease management in this podcast episode.

A personalised approach to healing

Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms.

This holistic approach was crucial in my daughter’s recovery. When we moved beyond treating her skin condition and began addressing the root causes such as dietary triggers, gut health and reduced inflammation, her skin condition improved. 

However, this comprehensive method can benefit anyone dealing with chronic conditions.

By understanding the interconnected aspects of health—such as gut health, nutrition, and lifestyle choices—Functional Medicine helps create a robust foundation for healing.

Indeed, one of the significant benefits of working with a Functional Medicine health coach is the customization of health plans.

I’ve seen incredible results with personalized strategies tailored to my clients’ specific needs.

For example, one of my clients struggled with persistent fatigue linked to nutritional deficiencies. Through a customized health plan involving dietary changes and targeted supplements, her energy levels improved dramatically. This kind of tailored approach ensures that the health strategies are effective and relevant to the individual’s condition.

Implementing lifestyle changes that fit into your daily routine

Managing a chronic illness requires a well-rounded approach that includes nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Integrating these elements into daily routines can significantly impact your overall health.

Working with a health coach provides you with the guidance that you need as you brainstorm ways to make these changes with as much ease as possible.

From my own experience, practical strategies such as creating meal plans that manage dietary triggers, establishing a regular exercise routine, and incorporating mindfulness practices for stress reduction have been indispensable.

These integrative lifestyle changes are essential to enjoy a balanced and sustainable healing process.

Continuous support and accountability from a health coach

Continuous support and accountability are critical components of managing chronic illness.

A Functional Medicine health coach provides you with ongoing encouragement, regular check-ins, and necessary adjustments to health plans, ensuring you stay on track.

In other words, she provides the accountability you need to keep going.

In our case, I worked with a Functional Medicine practitioner who helped me understand what was needed to address the root causes of my daughter’s health issues.

However, there was one key aspect that was still missing- someone to guide me and help me understand exactly HOW to make make such changes. 

I needed to address various dietary and lifestyle factors, the chronic stress of living with this condition, sleepless nights, her intensive moisturisation routine to name a few.

Grappling with all of this on a day to day basis was exhausting! 

I often wished I had someone to reach out to to cope on a daily basis. Someone who would encourage and motivate me to keep going. In the process, I became my own coach so that I could keep moving forward.

In fact, this was the main reason that I became a Health Coach myself so that others would not have to deal with what I went through.

Why do people fail to find lasting relief?

Many people with chronic illnesses have tried various conventional methods without significant success or finding lasting relief.

Common pitfalls include:

1. Focus on symptom management: Conventional approach is to treat symptoms temporarily without addressing root causes. For instance, taking painkillers for chronic pain, but finding that the pain returns once the medication wears off.

2. Standard diet plans: Generic diets may not cater to specific individual needs.

3. Over-the-Counter supplements: Using these without professional guidance can be ineffective. While supplements can be helpful, taking them without addressing the root causes or understanding the right dosages might not yield the desired results. And not taking the right dosage or the right form of the nutrient is a very common mistake that most people make.

4. Isolated lifestyle changes: Without a comprehensive approach, these changes may not provide any lasting results.

5. Short-Term therapies:  Engaging in short-term or sporadic therapies, like occasional visits to a physical therapist or a temporary mindfulness practice, without consistent and sustained effort, often due to lack of guidance or support..

For example, my daughter’s eczema was managed by topical treatments and steroids initially, providing only temporary relief. It was the holistic functional medicine approach that truly addressed her underlying issues.

Getting the support you need

Everyone wants to get healthy and make better choices, but it’s hard!

Changing long-held habits is not easy and sustaining changes long-term can be immensely challenging.

What they need is someone to hold them accountable and provide the right kind of support.

This is where a Health Coach can provide valuable social support, guiding you in making better choices and changing habits.

The number one obstacle people face when trying to make changes and achieve their best health is not willpower, resources, or preparation – it is a lack of support.

Anindita

Also, as Health Coaches, we are highly trained in human behavior, motivation, and health, partnering with our clients to set and reach their health and wellness goals.

Continuous guidance and support, along with the accountability provided by a health coach, will keep you on track, helping you overcome challenges and adapt your strategies to maximize progress.

A Functional Medicine health coach helps break down health goals into small, actionable steps in three important ways:

1. Personalized nutrition plans: Co-creating a personalised diet plan that is tailored to your body’s unique requirements.

2. Holistic lifestyle changes: Helping you implement strategies such as stress management, mindset shifts, and environment modification.

3. Continuous guidance and accountability: Ensuring you stay on track and motivated.

In my practice, I use tools like these as well as positive psychology and motivational interviewing to help my clients achieve transformative results.

The importance of getting continuous support

Sustainable health improvements require ongoing support, not just temporary fixes.

A Functional Medicine health coach provides the expertise and structured guidance you need for lasting change. They help you navigate the intricate connections between lifestyle, diet, and overall health, ensuring that all aspects of your life are aligned with your wellness goals.

Without this kind of support, it’s easy to fall back into old habits and see little to no improvement in your health.

The importance of working with a Health Coach lies in their ability to offer tailored, actionable guidance and consistent encouragement, which is often the missing piece in many health journeys.

Your health deserves more than a cookie-cutter approach.

It requires a detailed, personalized plan and unwavering support. By working with a health coach you can uncover and address the root causes of your chronic issues, leading to meaningful and lasting improvements in your well-being.

Invest in your health today and experience the transformative power of personalized care and continuous support.