Episode 23 - Laura Helgeson on UTI Advocacy, Misdiagnosis, & Mental Health: Creating Change & Choosing Kindness
By Jessica Garrison
We are joined this week by another guest who may sound a little familiar. Laura Helgeson has been on our Embracing Layers Radio Show episode Have You Connected Your Physical Health to Your Emotional Health in Your Embracing Layers Journey? and she’s here to share further details about her journey. Laura is focused, driven, compassionate, and she is someone with kindness.
The connection between physical, mental, and spiritual health has been the center of Laura’s life and her why. Laura opens up about her struggle with chronic UTIs, something she’s suffered from since she was young. Since there’s so many misconceptions about UTIs, Laura hid her diagnosis from pretty much everyone. I love that she emphasizes the point of releasing shame from the body because they’re natural beings. Melissa has said before that there is a lot of learning that goes into embracing your layers, but there is just as much unlearning to do. Overcoming the shame we feel from our bodies is a key example of how important it is to learn as well as unlearn. This way, we are able to take care of all aspects of our health properly and with more knowledge.
It’s not easy to reach this point in your journey, and I’m proud of Laura for sharing her story to help other women. If there aren’t resources on this topic, she will become the resource for people. If there aren’t conversations being held on this topic, she’ll begin the discussion. Chronic UTIs are not recognized legitimately in the United States, even though it is a very real and serious health issue. Laura shared the statistic with us that 60% of women in the U.S. will suffer from a UTI at some point in her life and 30% of those women will have recurring UTIs or chronic UTIs. It’s an issue that is deeply personal for Laura, but also for so many women who need this information to live comfortably.
I also love how Laura expresses the need to do things for yourself, even if it’s minor. The little things really add up, and this can help your stamina in your embracing layers journey. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal, doing something small for yourself can make a world of difference. Whether it’s a short walk, a five minute breathing exercise, or getting dessert after dinner, you owe it to yourself to do the little things to make you happy and keep the connections throughout our bodies stable.
Laura is a trailblazer who is creating a huge change in the way women view themselves, both the inside and the outside. Health is her objective, and she is inspiring others to become their own advocate. Her amazing work for women will continue as she continues to live unapologetically.
Ways to Engage: Do something kind for yourself today. Get a large coffee instead of medium, take yourself out to a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, stay in for the evening instead of going out. Whatever it may be, do something kind for yourself—it doesn’t have to be big. The little things add up.