GERD, Stress & Gut Health: How My Body Spoke What I Couldn’t Say
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Let me be honest — I didn’t expect a diagnosis like GERD to come knocking at my door. I was just trying to live, raise my kids, build my business, and find a little peace in the chaos. But sometimes, your body has a way of speaking when your mouth won’t.
And my gut?
Whewww. It had something to say.
I started noticing the symptoms — heartburn, tightness in my chest, a burning feeling after eating, and this constant sense that something just wasn’t sitting right. I brushed it off at first. Blamed the food. Blamed the stress. Blamed the day.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
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💭 Stress Didn’t Just Break Me Down Emotionally — It Messed Up My Gut
Here’s what I didn’t realize at the time: my stress wasn’t just making me tired — it was triggering flare-ups in my gut. I learned that anxiety, being overwhelmed, and emotional pressure can literally affect your digestive system.
Our guts are often called our “second brain,” and for good reason. When your life feels out of order, your stomach starts keeping score.
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🍷 And the Sip That Felt Like Relief? It Wasn’t Helping Me Heal
Let’s be real — I used to lean on wine to unwind. A glass here or there to “take the edge off.” But alcohol only made my GERD worse. I didn’t want to admit it, but I had to learn: healing means letting go of even the small things that cause big harm inside.
For me, that meant learning to put peace before pleasure — even if it was uncomfortable at first.
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✝️ So I Turned to What’s Always Held Me: Faith & Self-Care
God met me in the middle of the mess. And that’s when Hope & Beyond took on new meaning for me. It wasn’t just about making candles anymore — it was about making space for healing, stillness, and resetting from the inside out.
I created the G.U.T. Love guide as a soft place for anyone walking through digestive challenges, stress, or emotional fatigue. If you’ve been carrying symptoms quietly or struggling to balance your health with your heart — this guide is for you.
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🌿 Inside G.U.T. Love, you’ll find:
My story and simple breakdowns of GERD
Digestive-positive foods and gentle movement
Candle recommendations that help support calm
Scriptures and affirmations to restore your peace
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🕯️ This isn’t just a guide. It’s a healing companion.
And I hope it brings you the same kind of grace God’s been showing me.
💛
With love,
Monique
Founder of Hope & Beyond
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📥 Call to Action (CTA):
👉🏽 Download the G.U.T. Love Guide now — your healing starts with awareness.
🛍️ Available now at MyHopeAndBeyond.com