Jessica Finds Peace with Embody

​Jessica understands struggle. She has dealt with addiction, trauma, nightmares, fear, and anger. Because of all of this, she ended up losing custody of her three daughters, one of the most painful experiences of her life. 

She says "I tell myself I'm not worthy I'm not good enough and I'm not capable. And I believe that. I've done this for years. Honestly,  it's hard to get rid of all of that once its etched into your being for so long."

Jessica's daughters

Thankfully, that is not the end of the story. Jessica got involved with our community partner, Hushabye Nursery in Gilbert, AZ. Their mission is "Embracing substance exposed babies and their caregivers with compassionate, evidence-based care that changes the course of their entire lives."

As their partner, Embody has been providing free meditation and yoga services virtually twice a week. Dana meets online with the women to help them learn the restorative practices that can calm their mind - something to turn to instead of substances. The consistency of these meetings help women develop their own practice. 

Jessica says, "My mind likes to do something called future tripping,  I love to fear what's already happened and what's going to happen. Which essentially I have no control over.  Mindfulness has given me back some of that control. I've been able to begin learning about this practice and what exactly it can be used for, why its important and how simple it can really be."

Mindfulness, meditation, breathing, and grounding techniques can be powerful tools for people who have experienced profound trauma. One thing that Embody teaches is that it is a practice - you have to keep at it. In Jessica's words: "The more I practice and the better I get at it, the better it gets! For me I feel like it's a whole different world, its a place I can go to gain some stability, some strength, direction and peace."

One of the reasons that these techniques are beneficial for women like Jessica is that once they learn the tools, it is something that is totally free and they can take with them any time, anywhere. Unlike other treatment options, it is a solution that they can develop inside themselves. This gives them their power back in a whole new way. 
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As Jessica puts it, "today I can get myself to a place that I am absolutely capable of enduring even some of the most difficult things. I have control over the way I respond to this crazy life,  today I know I am worth it, I know I am beautiful, I know I am capable."

Jessica is looking forward to a bright future. She is currently 36 weeks pregnant and due any time. She feels confident that what she has learned with Embody will continue to help her build from where she is. She says, "I have actually been able to unknowingly begin applying these grounding techniques through out my day, where now its just a normal reaction for me depending on what's going on in my life. Dana has taught me how powerful just being mindful can really be."

No matter what is going on around her, the practices she has learned with Dana gives her the ability to stop, and breathe. ​